Pilots flying round the world and those at home sometimes have problems understanding one another. They think and calculate for example in different units of measure for distances, speeds and times. Here are a few brief explanations of the technical terms.

1. Distance and speed

In Germany, distances and accordingly the speed are expressed in the metric system. Pilots use miles and knots as units of measure. This is how they are converted:

Nautical miles (nm) Kilometres (km)	1 nm = 1.85 km 1 km = 0.54 nm
Foot (ft) Metre (m)	1 ft = 0.31 m 1 m = 32 ft
Knots (kts) Kilometres per hour(km/h)	1 kt = 1.85 km/h 1 km/h = 0.54 kts

2. Flight level (FL)

The flight level is defined as an area with the same air pressure as the pressure in the standard atmosphere at sea level. For example, flight level 90 corresponds to an altitude of 9,000 feet (fts) or 2,790 m with air pressure of 1,013.25 hectopascal (hPa) at sea level.

3. Time zones

3.1. Universal Time Coordinated (UTC)

Regardless of their position and the time zone they are in, pilots use coordinated global time Universal Time Coordinated, or UTC. It refers to Greenwich Mean Time; Greenwich in London is located on the zero meridian. By using UTC, there are no international misunderstandings as regards the time, for example for take-off or landing times.

Pilots flying round the world and those at home sometimes have problems understanding one another. They think and calculate for example in different units of measure for distances, speeds and times. Here are a few brief explanations of the technical terms.

The 24 time zones are specified as positive (easterly) or negative (westerly) differences from UTC. Used as a reference point, the local time can then be calculated. UTC +1 is for example mid-European time in Germany, UTC +10 is local time in Sydney and UTC -5 in New York.

Due to daylight saving time, the United Kingdom has UTC +1 and Germany UTC +2.

The www.worldtimezone.com website shows the time zones and the local times in real time.