Nautical mile.
A nautical mile is a unit of distance used in aviation and at sea, defined internationally as exactly 1,852 metres, which is about 6,076 feet or 1.151 statute miles. The unit was historically one minute of latitude along a meridian. Aircraft ranges and route distances are quoted in nautical miles, and speed in knots, one nautical mile per hour.
| Term | Nautical mile |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Great-circle distance, Range, Light jet |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Nautical mile mean in practice?
Almost every number you will see about a private jet uses nautical miles.
Manufacturers state range in nautical miles, flight plans measure legs in nautical miles, and cruise speed is given in knots. To convert to kilometres, multiply by 1.852. To convert to statute miles, multiply by roughly 1.15. The international definition of exactly 1,852 metres was adopted in 1929, with the United States following in 1954 and the United Kingdom in 1970. The practical use for a traveller is comparing aircraft. A light jet with a published maximum range of 2,165 nautical miles, such as the Citation CJ4 Gen3, will not achieve that figure with a full cabin against a headwind; treat the figure as an upper bound. Brokers plan in nautical miles because that is what crews, dispatchers and air traffic control use, so when you ask how far a trip is, expect an answer in nautical miles.
Questions
What does Nautical mile mean?
A nautical mile is a unit of distance used in aviation and at sea, defined internationally as exactly 1,852 metres, which is about 6,076 feet or 1.151 statute miles. The unit was historically one minute of latitude along a meridian. Aircraft ranges and route distances are quoted in nautical miles, and speed in knots, one nautical mile per hour.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Nautical mile (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.