Surely you’ve asked yourself why aircraft routes, especially long distances, follow a curved path rather than a straight line. As we all know, and confirmed by Euclid, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, right?
In that case, why do aeroplanes not fly in a straight line? Why does a flight from Madrid to Puerto Rico pass by Greenland? Have you ever heard of geodesic lines? We will explain here.
Geodesic lines are those which establish the shortest distance between two points of any surface, but it’s important to note, they are not always straight. In fact, it depends on the surface in question.
On a 2D map, the geodesic lines between any two points are straight. But on a curved map, how is the land surface? The geodesic lines are curved.
Also, as the Earth is not really a sphere as it’s slightly flattened at its poles, we find the geodesic lines are arches with higher or lower curvature, depending on the distance which separates two points and the latitude difference between them.
Flying along a geodesic curve helps to save fuel, reduce flight time and minimise costs. And you know these factors are essentials for airlines. But how do you calculate the exact route to follow?
Although you can read more in our post on flight planning, roughly speaking, to determine the optimal route, complex mathematical models and computer programmes are used that take into account several factors:
Taking these factors into account, airlines use orthodromic navigation, a method based on geodesic curves, to plot the most efficient route for each flight.
The next time you look out of the airplane window, you will surely remember geodesic lines and their importance in air navigation. Aeroplanes can’t just follow a random route; you’ve seen the careful planning and expertise that goes into every flight.
If you’ve already decided that your future lies in the air, on the Commercial Pilot Course you’ll learn these and many other terms that will be fundamental to your day-to-day life at the controls of a commercial aircraft.
But until then, if we have aroused your curiosity, keep browsing our blog! You’ll find interesting topics such as our guide to all the different types of aircraft that exist – you’re going to love it!
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