The term air mile, also known as a nautical mile, refers to the distance between two locations measured by traveling from one to the other over water or in the air. The term land mile, also known as a statute mile, refers to the distance between two locations measured by traveling between them in an imaginary straight line on the ground. Because of the difference in the way the two are measured, an air mile is established as a distance of 6,080 feet while a land mile distance is 5,280 feet. You can use standard formulas to compare air miles to land miles.

Convert air miles to land miles. The formula is one air mile equals approximately 1.15 land miles. To illustrate, the air mile flying distance between Anchorage, Alaska, and Moscow, Russia, is 3,793 nautical miles. 3,793 times 1.15 equals 4,364. Therefore, Anchorage is 4,364 land miles from Moscow.

Convert land miles to air miles. The formula is one land mile equals approximately .868 air miles. For example, the land mile distance from Dallas, Texas, to Austin, Texas, is 181 miles. 181 times .868 equals 158. Therefore, Dallas is 158 air miles from Austin.

Convert air speed to land speed. The formula is one knot equals approximately 1.15 land miles per hour. As an example, an airplane might fly at 500 knots. 500 times 1.15 equals 575. Therefore, the airplane's speed in land miles is 575 miles per hour.

Convert land speed to air speed. The formula is one mile per equals approximately 0.868 knots. A sports car might be driving at 120 miles per hour. 120 times .868 equals 104. Therefore, the sports car's speed in flying miles is 104 knots.