The effective swath width measures:

The effective swath width is determined by the width of a single pass that includes portions of overlaps from other passes. This is significant in aerial application as it accounts for the accuracy and efficiency of the treatment being applied to a given area, particularly in cases where multiple passes are necessary to ensure complete coverage.

Understanding effective swath width is crucial for operators because it influences the calculation of the total area covered and the amount of product required. It helps in reducing gaps and overlaps, which can lead to resource waste or inadequate application. Therefore, knowing how overlaps contribute to the effective swath width allows operators to optimize their flight patterns and improve the overall efficiency of the aerial application process.

Other choices, such as total swath made by a single pass or the distance between the outermost points, do not adequately address the importance of overlaps, which are critical for determining the overall effectiveness of the application.