Why Do Airplanes Measure Distances in Nautical Miles Instead of Kilometers?

Nautical miles are used as a primary unit of measurement in the world of aviation, relying on lines of longitude and latitude and correlating with the Earth's spherical shape. This enhances the accuracy of calculating long distances over continents and oceans. The international standard for defining a nautical mile was established in 1929, equaling 1,852 meters, and it remains the benchmark in both aerial and maritime navigation. It helps improve fuel consumption estimates and positioning accuracy, and it continues to be linked to modern navigation technologies such as GPS. Despite efforts to replace it with the metric system, the nautical mile is still widely used due to its close connection to geographical references.