def METHOD_NAME(self, val_meters):
    '''return a distance as a string'''
    if self.settings.dist_unit == 'nm':
        return "%.1fnm" % (val_meters * 0.000539957)
    if self.settings.dist_unit == 'miles':
        return "%.1fmiles" % (val_meters * 0.000621371)
    return "%um" % val_meters