Altimeter and Descent - Aviator Connection

The Pitot-Static System: How It Works

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

The respective instruments for showing these readings are: The Airspeed Indicator (ASI) The Altimeter The Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) Components of the Pitot-Static System Have you ever noticed the little L-shaped component on the front of an airplane? How Does the System Give Inputs to the Altimeter?

Pitot Tube

Pitot Tube Altimeter Airplanes Descent

The anatomy of a commercial flight – all you ever wanted to know: Part two

Aerotime

DECEMBER 20, 2024

We will also examine the next most critical phase of our flight, from descent and deceleration to the approach and landing phases, even touching upon what happens when the aircraft arrives safely at the gate. Mario Hagen / Shutterstock The announcement will also be one of the first items on the pilots before-descent checklist.

Cabin Crew

Cabin Crew Descent Runway Approach

Airspeed and Altitude Control Simplified: Tips for Stable Flying

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

Using the VSI and Altimeter for Stability The vertical speed indicator and altimeter are your best tools for maintaining a steady altitude. The altimeter , when set correctly, shows your actual height above sea level. When climbing or descending, check the altimeter frequently to ensure you’re on target.

True Airspeed

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Altimeter Lift

The Six Pack: Basic Flight Instruments

Pilot Institute

JANUARY 27, 2025

The six primary instruments (the six-pack) are the Attitude Indicator (AI), Heading Indicator (HI), Turn Coordinator, Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, and the Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI). Pitot-Static Instruments The instruments that use the pitot-static system are the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI).

Pitot Tube

Pitot Tube Altimeter Instrument Flight Rules Descent

RNAV Approaches Simplified: A Guide for New Pilots

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

LNAV Approach An LNAV (Lateral Navigation) approach helps guide you left and right toward the runway, but it doesnt tell you how to control your descent. Instead of a Decision Height (DH), youll use something called a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA). Theyre only meant to keep the descent stable. Thats up to you! Easy, right?

Approach

Approach Pilot Descent Airplanes

What is the Pitot-Static System and How Does it Work?

Northstar VFR

JUNE 30, 2024

Pilots rely on the airspeed indicator and altimeter instruments to measure and display this vital information. The static port is connected to the ASI, altimeter, and VSI. How does the pitot-static system operate the altimeter? The altimeter utilizes the static port to receive inputs of the outside static pressure.

Pitot Tube

Pitot Tube Altimeter Instrument Meteorological Conditions Descent

My Near Death Experience

Air Facts

APRIL 29, 2024

I requested a descent from 6,000’ down to 4,000’ and was denied due to traffic. I was soon cleared to descend to 4,000’ and entered IMC during the descent while I located the approach chart to brief. I began a rapid descent from 3,000’ down to the 2,000’ for the IAF. We’re now following a Saratoga. The IAF was looming closer.

Descent

Descent Approach Weather AGL

MDA vs. DA Made Simple: A Guide to IFR Minimums

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 12, 2024

If you’re on a non-precision or precision approach, understanding MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude) and DA (Decision Altitude) is incredibly important. The main difference: MDA involves leveling off, while DA involves deciding during descent. These paths guide the airplane safely during its descent. What does that mean?

Altimeter

Altimeter Descent Approach Runway

Basic attitude instrument flying – the foundation for IFR flight

Flight Training Central

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

First, the airplane is more stable in pitch than bank and, if you are a typical VFR pilot, you refer to the altimeter more than to the heading indicator. Just as an excessive climb or descent will cause you to overshoot altitude, an excessive rate of turn results in overshooting the target heading. Now let’s look at descents.

Descent

Descent Altimeter Airplanes Approach

“Totally a visibility issue.”

Fear of Landing

DECEMBER 6, 2024

The controller confirmed a descent to 3,000 feet, the minimum safe altitude for BEGKA. At the point of the visual descent (visual should perhaps be in quotes here), the Mooney was still a mile and a half from the runway but flying at 587 feet. The pilot is not to descend below these altitudes until they can see the runway lights. .

Approach

Approach Runway Air Traffic Control Descent

Airspeed & Vertical Speed

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

For example, in a 200-feet-per-minute descent, a typical light plane will only gain a little speed. The altimeter will tell us how much height we’ve gained, but estimating how fast the needles are turning (or the tape is sliding past) is a lousy way to tell how fast the altitude is changing.

Airplanes

Airplanes Descent Pilot Altimeter

How to Recover from Unusual Attitudes

Pilot Institute

AUGUST 2, 2024

Increasing altitude – read from your altimeter. Decreasing altitude – read from your altimeter. An increasing rate of descent. Decreasing altitude – read from your altimeter. High rate of descent – shown on your vertical speed indicator. – read from your vertical speed indicator.

Altimeter

Altimeter Descent Turbulence Lift

Indicated Airspeed (IAS)

WayMan

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Maneuvering : IAS helps pilots maintain control during climbs, turns, and descents. Cross-Check Instruments : Use the altimeter and vertical speed indicator to confirm IAS accuracy. Weather Variations : Provides a stable reference point even when external conditions change.

Indicated Airspeed

Indicated Airspeed True Airspeed Altimeter Cockpit

Top Apple Watch features and apps for pilots

iPad Pilot News

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Get the watch app here. Altimeter+ Display an altimeter flight instrument on your watch. It continuously displays the direction and distance to nearby airports, along with a navigation instrument to guide you to a selected airport and descent planning data based on your current groundspeed.

Pilot

Pilot Altimeter Weather NOTAMs

How to Land an Airplane

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Descent Point Nominate a descent point that will give you a constant 3° profile to the threshold. We can calculate the rate of descent required to achieve a 3° profile. Add a zero to this number, and you have your target rate of descent. Add a zero, and that gives you a 400ft target rate of descent. Good question.

Airplanes

Airplanes Descent Approach Final Approach

Mastering Short Field Landings (A Step-by-Step Guide)

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Any substantial changes to speed and descent rate will destabilize the landing. The drag allows for a steeper descent, which is particularly helpful when avoiding obstacles. The local altimeter setting is 29.65, the temperature is 25°C, and we have a 9-knot headwind. Our imaginary destination airport is at 1,500 feet MSL.

Weight-Shift-Control

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Density Altitude

Flying a Skylane From Canada to Belize

Air Facts

DECEMBER 30, 2024

Upon clearing the Pine Valley Mountain range, I began my descent once clear of its 10,000-foot peak past breathtaking red sandstone cliff walls to the 2,800 ft elevation field. Additionally, the needle on my altimeter at one point was swinging through 500 increments! My approach into St.

Weather

Weather Approach VFR On Top Knot

ForeFlight vs. Garmin Pilot: 3 key differences to help you decide

iPad Pilot News

DECEMBER 17, 2024

From a flight safety standpoint, the app will alert you to a high cabin altitude, nearby terrain/obstacles, high sink rates, descent through 500 AGL, and nearby traffic and carbon monoxide when coupled with a Sentry ADS-B receiver.

Pilot

Pilot Weather Flight Plan Approach

Cessna Skyhawk C172: Features, Performance, and Flight Experience

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

This system includes modes for: roll pitch heading vertical speed altitude hold approach These modes allow for a steady rate of descent, ascent, and consistent speed and altitude ranges. The classic six-pack of flight instruments that pilots have relied on for decades remains a staple in the Cessna 172.

Knot

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight

Night Flight from Catalina: Beechcraft Baron Incident

Fear of Landing

OCTOBER 18, 2024

When I saw the altimeter start to climb I raised the landing gear and let out the breath I’d apparently been holding. However, just as the altimeter started to climb, the Baron faltered. I didn’t feel the plane hit any runway lights so I assumed I’d managed to keep the plane going straight enough for government work.

Runway

Runway Altimeter Pilot Lift

How to Brief an Instrument Approach (Step-by-Step)

Pilot Institute

MAY 1, 2024

The landing minimums section includes: Minimum descent altitudes. Preflight Planning Some pilots believe an approach briefing means skimming the chart right before descent. Identify the decision altitude (DA) or minimum descent altitude (MDA) valid for your approach. Set your altimeter bug accordingly.

Approach

Approach NOTAMs Runway Weather

How to Fly Perfect Lazy Eights

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

It’s just S-turns with climbs and descents, right? Glance at your altimeter. It’s an amazing feeling to hit your target altitude without having glanced at the altimeter. Lazy eights sound like the least challenging commercial checkride maneuver to learn. Thankfully, lazy eights don’t have to be such a struggle.

Rudder

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag

Pilot’s aviation app directory – 2025 Edition

iPad Pilot News

MARCH 27, 2025

Altimeter+ Calculates the altitude of your current location via GPS, or from the built-in barometer included on newer iPhones and iPads.Offers Apple Watch app. Airbus FlySmart Airbus offers a collection of apps for pilots to assistwith performance planning, maintenance and other operational guidance when flying these airplanes.

Weather

Weather Pilot Flight Plan Airplanes

Cruise Checklist, Complete?

Air Facts

AUGUST 14, 2024

Cruise, not so much—you’re being handed off from one sector to the next, plugging in a new altimeter along the way (hopefully). Ok, maybe it doesn’t exactly work that way, but I do know if you mind your engine temps during climbs and descents and learn how to use that red knob effectively in cruise, your engine will definitely be happier.

Altimeter

Altimeter Descent Runway Pilot