4 - Altimeter

ALTIMETER
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
 The pressure altimeter senses changes in
static pressure and through calibration
expresses this change as change in altitude.
 Static air pressure at any point will depend
on the weight of air above that point.
 The greater the height, the lower the static
pressure.
 The relationship between pressure & altitude
is not linear.
 High and low pressure weather systems
produce significant air pressure changes for a
given altitude.
 The rate at which temperature changes
within the air varies and this affects the air
pressure also.
CALIBRATION
 With all the variables in the atmosphere it is
necessary to adopt a standard atmospheric
condition to calibrate the altimeter.
 This is universally accepted as the
International Standard Atmosphere-ISA.
 The altimeter calibrated for ISA conditions can only
indicate the correct altitude where ISA conditions
exist in the atmosphere.
THE SIMPLE ALTIMITER
 Static pressure is fed into a sealed
instrument case.
 Inside the case a partially evacuated aneroid
capsule is connected via linkages to a pointer
on the instrument dial.
 As altitude increases, the static pressure
decreases and the capsule expands and
moves the pointer.
 In the descent the capsule is compressed and
the pointer moves in the opposite direction.
THE SENSITIVE ALTIMETER
 It incorporates a bank of aneroid capsules
which gives increased movement for changes
in pressure and results in greater sensitivity.
DIFFERENT DISPLAYS
THE SERVO ASSISTED
ALTIMETER
 Direct mechanical linkage between the
capsules & the pointer is replaced with an
electro magnetic system which can detect
minute movement of the capsules and can
convert the movement into electrical
current.
 The electrical current is amplified to drive a
servo motor which rotates the pointer.
ADVANTAGES OF SERVO
ASSISTED ALTIMETER
 Improved accuracy especially at higher
altitudes.
 Friction & manufacturing imperfections in
conventional mechanical linkages are
reduced.
 Digital readout and altitude warnings are
easily incorporated.
VERTICAL DISTANCE
 Altitude
 Elevation
 Height
 Flight Level
ALTIMETER SETTINGS
 When we are near the ground our purpose is
to make clearance from the ground &
obstacles Altitude ( we use QNH )
 When we are high enough to be in no danger

from terrain it is more important to avoid
colliding with other A/C, so we need
standard settings  1013hPa ( FL )
 QFE : Is the subscale setting that will cause
the altimeter to read zero when the A/C is at
touchdown.
 QNH : Is the subscale setting that will cause
the altimeter to read the airport elevation
when the A/C is at touchdown.
 Standard Pressure settings are used to fly
Flight Levels
 When departing the circuit, you must set QNH in order to
relate your altimeter to elevations, especially if there are
obstructions or high ground on the vicinity.
QNH-MSL PRESSURE
TRANSITION ALTITUDE
 The value of the Transition Altitude is depicted
in any plate-procedure.
TRANSITION LEVEL
TRANSITION LAYER
PRESSURE ALTITUDE
 If you set 1013 and do not correct for
Temperature error, then the altimeter will
show Pressure Altitude.
 Pressure Altitude is that altitude is ISA at
which the A/C’s actual barometric pressure
would be sensed.
DENSITY ALTITUDE
 DENSITY ALTITUDE = PRESSURE ALTITUDE + (ISA
DEVIATION X 118.8)
 CBT
WORKED EXAMPLE 1
 FL55
 SAT = +35°C
 What is the Density Altitude ?
SOLUTION
 DENSITY ALTITUDE = PRESSURE ALTITUDE + (ISA
DEVIATION X 118.8)
 FL55Pressure Altitude = 5500ft

 -2°C/1000ft5500ft Temperature should have
been +4°C in ISA
 But SAT is +35°C
 So ISA DEVIATION = +35°C – (+4°C) = +31°C
 DENSITY ALTITUDE = 5500 + ( 31 X 118.8 ) = 9.182ft
ALTIMETER ERRORS
 Instrument Error : Results from manufacturing
imperfection & friction in the mechanical
linkages. With the simple and sensitive
altimeter, instrument error increases with
altitude as the pressure changes to be sensed
become increasingly smaller.
 Position or Pressure Error : Results form
turbulent airflow and suction around the static
source. The pilot has to correct instrument &
position error by using the relative correction
card. Most ADC correct these errors
automatically.
 Manoeuvre-Induced Error : Is caused by short
term fluctuation in pressure at the static
source. In low-speed A/C fitted with a
combined pitot-static probe, manoeuvre-
induced error is most significant during pitch
changes, while in A/C fitted with static vents,
it is more significant in yaw.
 Time Lag Error : the response to a change of
height is not instantaneous because of the
time taken for the capsules & linkages to
respond to changes in static pressure. Time
Lag cause the altimeter to under-read in a
climb and to over-read in a descent. The
servo-assisted altimeter do not suffer from
such errors at normal rates of climb-descent.
 Barometric Error : CBT
 Temperature Error :
CALCULATION OF
TEMPERATURE ERROR
 We can correct temperature errors by using a
formula, navigation computer or tables.
WORKED EXAMPLE 2
 Indicated Altitude : 20.000ft
 SAT : -35°C
 What is the True Altitude ?

SOLUTION
 -2°C/1000ft20.000ft Temperature should have
been -25°C in ISA
 But SAT is -35°C
 So ISA DEVIATION = -35°C – (-25°C) = -10°C
 True Altitude = 20.000 + ( -10 x 4/1000 x 20.000)

= 19.200ft
BLOCKAGES & LEAKS
 A static source blockage results is the
altimeter continuing to show the altitude at
which the blockage occurred. The altimeter
will under-read in a climb and over-read in
descent. A static leak outside the pressure
hull, or in the unpressurised cabin, may
cause the altimeter to register o slightly
higher altitude than the true altitude, or the
altimeter may continue to read correctly. A
static line leak inside the pressure hull, will
cause the altimeter to show the cabin
altitude.
WORKED EXAMPLE 3
 QNH = 1025hPa
 Altitude = 3.500ft
 QFE = 985hPa
 Assume 1hPa=30ft
 What is the height of the A/C above the
airfield?
SOLUTION
 1025hPa - 985hPa = 40hPa difference
 1hPa = 30ft 40hPa = 1.200ft
 3.500ft – 1.200ft = 2.300ft height above the
airfield
WORKED EXAMPLE 4
 Indicated Altitude = 10.000ft
 Local QNH set
 COAT = -25°C
 Will the True Altitude be more or less than

the indicated value?
SOLUTION
 -2°C/1000ft10.000ft Temperature should
have been -5°C in ISA ( +15°C – 20°C = -5°C )
 But SAT is -25°C
 So ISA DEVIATION = -25°C – (-5°C) = -20°C
 So colder air  Altimeter under-reads 

True Altitude will be lower than the
Indicated Altitude

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ALTIMETER

 When we are high enough to be in no danger

 FL55Pressure Altitude = 5500ft

 What is the True Altitude ?

 True Altitude = 20.000 + ( -10 x 4/1000 x 20.000)

 Will the True Altitude be more or less than

 So colder air  Altimeter under-reads 

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