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How to Calculate Density Altitude (Without a Math Degree)

Pilot Institute

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.

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Air pressure and density

Professional Pilot

By Karsten Shein Comm-Inst Climate Scientist QNE, QNH, and QFE describe different altitudes for different phases of flight, but also serve as pressure altitude (QNE) or density altitude (QNH). Every pilot knows that aircraft fly because the forces of lift and thrust balance or exceed the weight and drag countering them.

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Pilot, Know Thyself: Discovering What It Means to Be Painfully Average

Flying Magazine

degrees per second, and lifted off at a pitch attitude of 6.5 degree glideslope, high density altitude, and an approach speed of 150 knots, all of which put our nominal descent rate very close to the book maximum of 1,000 ft/min. For example, last week I flew a Boeing 737-900ER from Salt Lake City to Tampa, Florida.

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Why Did I Buy a V3M? Plus: Was It the Right Choice?

Chess In the Air

Self-launch from high-altitude airports, not just from Boulder but also after a possible landout at another airport. The density altitude can be several thousand feet higher. A lifting aid is required to mount and remove the tail dolly which is a bit of a nuisance. Easy rigging and ground handling.

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Bargain Buys on AircraftForSale: 1953 Cessna 170B

Plane and Pilot

While most equate this to improved landing distances, the flaps are particularly effective at reducing the takeoff distance by creating more lift. Known for being smooth and nearly bulletproof, its only significant drawback is the lack of power, most noticeable when flying in higher density altitudes and at higher weights.

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Let’s Play it Safe

Plane and Pilot

The Cardinal and I were fairly new to the area, but I respected its performance limitations and was careful to account for the elevation and temperature and the density altitude it would surely bring. So, what was a pilot new to the high and hot world of density altitude flying to do? More on that later. It all adds up.

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The Mystery Deepens Around Air India 171 Crash

Jetwhine

Ahmedabad sits nearly at sea level but density altitude that day would have been very high with aircraft performance reduced due to the high density altitude. CCTV footage obtained from the airport showed Ram Air Turbine (RAT) getting deployed during the initial climb immediately after lift-off.