In aircraft design and aviation, distance is often measured in meters (m) when using the International System of Units (SI) for precision. The formula for measuring the straight-line distance (or “as-the-crow-flies” distance) between two points on the Earth’s surface, such as two airports or waypoints, is calculated using the Haversine formula.
Here’s the formula, definition, and explanation:Formula (Haversine Formula) for Distance in Meters:
- Distance is the calculated straight-line distance between two points on the Earth’s surface, typically measured in meters.
- R is the Earth’s mean radius, which is approximately 6,371 kilometers (6,371,000 meters).
- Δlat is the difference in latitude between the two points, measured in radians.lat1 and lat2 are the latitudes of the two points in radians.
- Δlon is the difference in longitude between the two points, measured in radians.