A pilot covers 480 nautical miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. What is the speed in knots?

To determine the speed in knots, you first need to convert the total time from hours and minutes into hours only, as speed in knots is defined as nautical miles per hour.

The pilot covers 480 nautical miles in 2 hours and 40 minutes. First, convert 2 hours and 40 minutes into a decimal format:

• 2 hours is already in the correct format.

• 40 minutes is converted to hours by dividing by 60, which gives us 40/60 = 0.6667 hours (approximately).

Now, combine these two to get the total time in hours:

2 + 0.6667 = 2.6667 hours.

Next, to find the speed in knots, you divide the distance by the time:

Speed = Distance / Time = 480 nautical miles / 2.6667 hours.

Calculating this gives:

Speed ≈ 180 knots.

This calculation confirms that the proper approach to finding the pilot's speed is to divide the total distance by the duration of the flight in hours. The value of approximately 180 knots aligns with the reality of average speeds during flights, where pilots ideally maintain a steady speed based on navigation needs and aircraft capabilities.