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How to calculate true altitude in case of low or high temperature?

Asked by: 3971 views Aerodynamics, Airspace, Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Private Pilot, Student Pilot, Weather

When temperature is too low or too high. true altitude is higher or lower than indicated, so we take the temperatures into account to get actual or true altitude. Does anyone know how to calculate true altitude during flight?

I am really getting it confused with density altitude...

1 Answers



  1. Russ Roslewski on Mar 31, 2016

    There is a table in the AIM (section 7-2-3) and other places for the cold temperature correction, because that puts you closer to the ground and is therefore more critical than the high temperature correction. It depends on the temperature at the reporting station (usually the airport) and the height you are above that station.

    I have a blog article about the effect of cold temperatures on instrument procedures here:

    http://cfiruss.blogspot.com/2014/02/its-cold-are-you-too-low.html

    I also have a blog article about the opposite, high temperatures and their effect on ILS approaches (about the only thing they really affect) here:

    http://cfiruss.blogspot.com/2014/03/ils-intermediate-stepdown-fixes-and.html

    Also, to hear a detailed explanation of the cold temperature correction, please check out the Stuck Mic AvCast episode number 112:

    http://stuckmicavcast.com/podcast/smac112-cold-weather-flying/

    Please note that the only time you apply these corrections are when you are IFR, you coordinate it with ATC, and it meets the requirements discussed in the podcast and blog. VFR, fly an indicated altitude and don’t worry about the correction. That keeps everybody safely separated from each other.

    Hope this helps!

    Russ

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