An altimeter measures altitude based on atmospheric pressure. A decrease in surface pressure between takeoff and landing locations will cause the altimeter to gradually read lower than the aircraft's actual altitude. For example, if surface pressure decreased 10 hectopascals from Miami to New Orleans, an aircraft maintaining 500 feet would actually be flying around 200 feet over New Orleans. Temperature also affects altimeter accuracy - if air is warmer than standard, the altimeter will read higher than actual altitude, and vice versa if cooler than standard.
An altimeter measures altitude based on atmospheric pressure. A decrease in surface pressure between takeoff and landing locations will cause the altimeter to gradually read lower than the aircraft's actual altitude. For example, if surface pressure decreased 10 hectopascals from Miami to New Orleans, an aircraft maintaining 500 feet would actually be flying around 200 feet over New Orleans. Temperature also affects altimeter accuracy - if air is warmer than standard, the altimeter will read higher than actual altitude, and vice versa if cooler than standard.
An altimeter measures altitude based on atmospheric pressure. A decrease in surface pressure between takeoff and landing locations will cause the altimeter to gradually read lower than the aircraft's actual altitude. For example, if surface pressure decreased 10 hectopascals from Miami to New Orleans, an aircraft maintaining 500 feet would actually be flying around 200 feet over New Orleans. Temperature also affects altimeter accuracy - if air is warmer than standard, the altimeter will read higher than actual altitude, and vice versa if cooler than standard.
Figure 10-1.-Altmeter errors due to change in surface pressure.
hectopascals and the atmospheric pressure at New
34 hectopascals = 1 in. (Hg) = 1,000 feet of elevation, Since 1 hectopascal is equal to about 30 feet Orleans is 1009 hectopascals, a difference of 10 hectopascals. Assume that an aircraft takes off from (below 10,000 feet altitude), a change of 10 Miami on a flight to New Orleans at an altitude of 500hectopascals would result in an approximate error of feet. A decrease in the mean sea level pressure of 10 300 feet. hectopascals from Miami to New Orleans would causeAltimeter Errors (Temperature) the aircraft to gradually lose altitude, and although the Another type of altimeter error is due to nonstandard altimeter indicates 500 feet, the aircraft would be temperatures. Even though the altimeter is properly set actually flying at approximately 200 feet over New for surface conditions, it will often be incorrect at higher Orleans. The correct altitude can be determined by levels. If the air is warmer than the standard for the obtaining the correct altimeter from New Orleans and flight altitude, the aircraft will be higher than the resetting the altimeter to agree with the destination altimeter indicates; if the air is colder than standard for adjustment. flight altitude, the aircraft will be lower than the NOTE: The following relationships generally hold altimeter indicates. Figure 10-2 shows an example of true up to approximately 15,000 feet: altimeter errors due to nonstandard air temperatures.
Figure 10-2.-Altimeter errors due to nonstandard air temperatures.