Great Circle Distance Calculator
Great circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere. In aviation, it is commonly used to estimate flight distance between airports and is usually expressed in nautical miles.
This tool supports airport-to-airport and coordinate-to-coordinate inputs for network planning, flight distance estimation, and airline analysis.
Load complete. Enter values and calculate.
Results
Route explanation appears here.
Formula
Using spherical law of cosines: d = R * arccos(sin φ1 sin φ2 + cos φ1 cos φ2 cos Δλ). Bearings are computed with standard initial-course trigonometric equations.
FAQ
What is great circle distance?
The shortest path between two points on Earth's surface.
Why do airlines use great circle routes?
To estimate efficient routing and fuel/time planning.
Is great circle distance the same as flight distance?
Not exactly. Operational routing can add distance.
What units are used in aviation?
Nautical miles are most common, plus km and miles for comparison.
How accurate is this calculator?
Suitable for planning and educational use.
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