Pilot Institute

APRIL 30, 2025

Calculating density altitude is like filing your taxes; annoying and often neglected until the last minute, but crucially important. Why is density altitude critical to ensuring safety, what factors affect it, and how is it calculated? Today is the day that the mystery of density altitude is solved.

Density Altitude 85

Density Altitude OAT Altimeter Flight Computer 85

Northstar VFR

JULY 28, 2023

This ensures everyone is reading the same altitudes. Density Altitude Density altitude is my personal favorite, and the reasoning is simple. It’s the altitude at which your airplane thinks it's at. When checking your ATIS (or AWOS/ASOS), sometimes you’ll hear at the very end “Density Altitude feet”.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude Altimeter True Altitude Weather 52

Flying Magazine

MAY 10, 2024

2: What effect does high density altitude have on the efficiency of a UA propeller? Density altitude does not affect propeller efficiency. 1: To avoid a possible collision with a manned airplane, you estimate that your small UA climbed to an altitude greater than 600 feet agl. Example question No.

Weight-Shift-Control 116

Weight-Shift-Control Air Traffic Control Aeronautical Decision-Making Density Altitude 116

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

While calculating an aircraft’s performance, you must take into account ground effect, particularly when operating on short runways or in high-density altitude areas. For example, a Cessna 172 with a 36-foot wingspan will begin to experience ground effect between 30 and 36 feet Above Ground Level (AGL).

Ground Effect 52

Ground Effect Drag Lift Runway 52

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

At approximately 30-40 feet agl, the spinning stopped and the helicopter appeared to stabilize for a brief moment before continuing a nose-low, forward descent into the grass north of Runway 28. When it stopped climbing, the helicopter maneuvered erratically drifting towards the north and descending. As it descended it spun around 2-3 times.

Torque 98

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 98

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Temperature An increase in temperature will increase the density altitude. A high density altitude decreases the performance of the engine and the wing. Your aircraft will fly at a faster true airspeed at higher density altitudes. x V SO (or POH recommendation) by around 500 feet AGL.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Density Altitude Descent 52

AeroSavvy

OCTOBER 30, 2021

Northbound general aviation corridor altitudes are 11,500′ or 13,500′; southbound altitudes are 10,500′ or 12,500′ [as of June, 2021 – check a current chart for changes]. Altitude Caution Flying a normally aspirated (non-turbocharged) aircraft? Be sure you know your aircraft’s capabilities.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude General Aviation AGL Pilot 52