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Module 1 - Pressure and Density Altitude

The document discusses how atmospheric conditions like air density, pressure, and temperature affect aircraft performance. It defines key terms like pressure altitude, true altitude, density altitude, and introduces the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) which is used as a standard for comparing aircraft performance. Performance is better when air is more dense, which occurs at lower altitudes, higher pressures, and lower temperatures compared to the ISA.

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IIT PUCNH
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69 views10 pages

Module 1 - Pressure and Density Altitude

The document discusses how atmospheric conditions like air density, pressure, and temperature affect aircraft performance. It defines key terms like pressure altitude, true altitude, density altitude, and introduces the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) which is used as a standard for comparing aircraft performance. Performance is better when air is more dense, which occurs at lower altitudes, higher pressures, and lower temperatures compared to the ISA.

Uploaded by

IIT PUCNH
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Atmospheric Conditions

Performance of aircraft depends primarily


on the density of the air through which it
is operating.
Runway length design conditions will be
longer when air is less dense
Air density is affected by air pressure and
air temperature.
Air density decreases with the decrease
in air pressure.
Air density reduces with the increase in
air temperature.

1
Atmospheric Conditions

A standard atmosphere is defined for comparing the performance of aircraft, for planning and
design of airports. It represents the average conditions found in the atmosphere in a particular
geographic region.

Troposphere : Sea level -36000ft altitude linear decrease in temperature


Stratosphere : 36000-65000ft constant temperature
Temperature rises above 65000ft

2
Atmospheric Conditions
The International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
Sea Level
15ºC
29.92 inHg 101.32 kPa
-1.98ºC per 1000ft
1in per 1000ft
Pressure altitude
Pressure altitude is the altitude in relation to the standard datum plane (29.92 inHg/101.32KPa)
It is used to determine aircraft’s performance on a non-standard day.

3
Atmospheric Conditions
True altitude
True altitude is the exact vertical height of your airplane above sea level.
Objects on flight charts use true altitude and are commonly expressed in feet MSL.
Absolute altitude
Absolute altitude is the distance between your aircraft and the ground.
Absolute altitude is measured in feet AGL, which means feet above ground level.

4
Atmospheric Conditions
Pressure altitude

True altitude

Pressure altitude

29.92inHg
Sea level

Under standard conditions

5
Atmospheric Conditions
Pressure altitude

True altitude

Pressure altitude
29.92inHg

31.12inHg
Sea level

High pressure condition

Pressure altitude = True altitude + (29.92 – atmospheric pressure) x 1000

6
Atmospheric Conditions
Pressure altitude

True altitude

Pressure altitude

27.82inHg
Sea level
29.92inHg
Low pressure condition

Pressure altitude = True altitude + (29.92 – atmospheric pressure) x 1000

7
Atmospheric Conditions
The International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
Sea Level
15ºC
29.92 inHg 101.32 kPa
-1.98ºC per 1000ft

Density altitude
An altitude in the ISA atmosphere where a given density is found

Density altitude = Pressure altitude + 120 x (Outside air temperature -15ºC)

8
Atmospheric Conditions
4000 ft 20 25.92inHg/ 7ºC

3000 ft 40 26.92inHg/ 9ºC

2000 ft 60 27.92inHg/ 11ºC

1000 ft 80 28.92inHg/ 13ºC

0 ft 29.92inHg/ 15ºC
100

ISA condition
9
Atmospheric Conditions

Sea level

True altitude= 3000ft


Temperature=20ºC Temperature=0ºC
ISA condition True altitude= 3000ft
Pressure=28.12 inHg Pressure=33.26 inHg

Which case will be more favourable?


10

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