Knowledge (XXG)

Density altitude

Source 📝

25: 73: 1609: 1818: 1377: 222:
rate, can create dangerous situations and accidents. Parachutes at higher altitudes fly more aggressively, making their effective area smaller, which is more demanding for a pilot's skill and can be especially dangerous for high-performance landings, which require accurate estimates and have a low
201:
The density altitude is an important factor in skydiving, and one that can be difficult to judge properly, even for experienced skydivers. In addition to the general change in wing efficiency that is common to all aviation, skydiving has additional considerations. There is an increased risk due to
1083: 1341: 1180: 157:
The power output of a normally-aspirated engine – the power output depends on the oxygen intake, so the engine output is reduced as the equivalent dry-air density decreases, and it produces even less power as moisture displaces oxygen in more humid
1604:{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}{\text{DA}}&\approx {\text{PA}}+118.8~{\frac {\text{ft}}{^{\circ }{\text{C}}}}\left\\&=1.2376\,{\text{PA}}+118.8~{\frac {\text{ft}}{{}^{\circ }{\text{C}}}}\,T_{\text{OA}}-1782~{\text{ft}}.\end{aligned}}} 845: 1822: 395: 990: 1382: 1248: 1659: 1116: 880: 189:
Due to these performance issues, an aircraft's takeoff weight may need to be lowered, or takeoffs may need to be scheduled for cooler times of the day. The wind direction and the
119:, will cause an increase in the density altitude. In hot and humid conditions, the density altitude at a particular location may be significantly higher than the true altitude. 1700: 1241: 553: 478: 1204: 1111: 906: 423: 138:(TAS), are also subject to air-density changes. Furthermore, the power delivered by the aircraft's engine is affected by the density and composition of the atmosphere. 579: 702: 950: 928: 673: 643: 613: 516: 449: 231:
The density altitude can be calculated from the atmospheric pressure and the outside air temperature (assuming dry air) using the following formula:
1663: 96:
would be equal to the indicated air density at the place of observation. In other words, the density altitude is the air density given as a height
1847: 1734: 206:
with a completely different density altitude than they are used to, without being made consciously aware of it by the routine of calibrating to
237: 1804: 167: 1877: 1078:{\displaystyle {\text{DA}}\approx {\text{PA}}+118.8~{\frac {\text{ft}}{^{\circ }{\text{C}}}}\left(T_{\text{OA}}-T_{\text{ISA}}\right).} 171: 89: 59: 1708: 44:
Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.
1336:{\textstyle T_{\text{ISA}}\approx 15~{{}^{\circ }{\text{C}}}-1.98~{{}^{\circ }{\text{C}}}\,{\frac {\text{PA}}{1000~{\text{ft}}}}} 122:
In aviation, the density altitude is used to assess an aircraft's aerodynamic performance under certain weather conditions. The
1795: 1872: 38: 1175:{\textstyle \approx {\text{station elevation in feet}}+27~{\frac {\text{ft}}{\text{mb}}}(1013~{\text{mb}}-{\text{QNH}})} 178:
disadvantage. The following effects result from a density altitude that is higher than the actual physical altitude:
33: 146:
Air density is perhaps the single most important factor affecting aircraft performance. It has a direct bearing on:
650: 1852: 1833: 693: 489: 856: 1827: 1640: 1620: 519: 24: 696:
uses the following dry-air approximation to the formula for the density altitude above in its standard:
1742: 211: 112: 97: 1219: 960:
Note that the NWS standard specifies that the density altitude should be rounded to the nearest 100
531: 456: 1187: 1801: 1625: 1094: 953: 889: 481: 406: 131: 1684: 1679:
AOPA Flight Training, Volume 19, Number 4; April 2007; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association;
182:
An aircraft will accelerate more slowly on takeoff as a result of its reduced power production.
1680: 493: 215: 101: 564: 840:{\displaystyle {\text{DA}}_{\text{NWS}}=145442.16~{\text{ft}}\left(1-\left^{0.235}\right).} 1808: 1771:. Departments of the Air Force and Navy. 1 December 1989. AFM 51-40 / NAVAIR 00-80V-49. 1630: 935: 913: 658: 628: 598: 501: 434: 93: 1866: 968:
Approximation formula for calculating the density altitude from the pressure altitude
485: 135: 1635: 620: 163: 123: 1776: 218:
at high density altitudes, which, combined especially with the unexpected higher
1857: 883: 680: 203: 175: 108: 185:
An aircraft will climb more slowly as a result of its reduced power production.
150:
The efficiency of a propeller or rotor – which for a propeller (effectively an
72: 1352: 1207: 586: 930:, station pressure (static atmospheric pressure) in inches of mercury (inHg); 1211: 219: 390:{\displaystyle {\text{DA}}\approx {\frac {T_{\text{SL}}}{\Gamma }}\left.} 116: 85: 484:
atmospheric pressure, International Standard Atmosphere (ISA): 1013.25
151: 127: 972:
This is an easier formula to calculate (with great approximation) the
1343:, assuming that the outside air temperature falls at the rate of 1.98 523: 426: 190: 71: 1802:
http://www.tpub.com/content/aerographer/14269/css/14269_74.htm
1660:"AC 00-45H - Aviation Weather Services – Document Information" 207: 18: 202:
the high mobility of jumpers (who will often travel to a
100:. The density altitude can also be considered to be the 1251: 1119: 1380: 1222: 1190: 1097: 993: 938: 916: 892: 859: 705: 661: 631: 601: 567: 534: 504: 459: 437: 409: 240: 16:
Altitude relative to standard atmospheric conditions
952:, station temperature (outside air temperature) in 115:, and, to a much lesser degree, an increase in the 1853:Density Altitude influence on aircraft performance 1603: 1335: 1243:, outside air temperature in degrees Celsius (°C); 1235: 1198: 1174: 1105: 1077: 944: 922: 900: 874: 839: 667: 637: 607: 573: 547: 510: 472: 443: 417: 389: 214:). Another factor is the higher susceptibility to 1735:"High and Fast: Understanding Density Altitude" 882:, National Weather Service density altitude in 223:margin of error before they become dangerous. 8: 1694: 1692: 1371:°C, this approximation simplifies to become 1829:Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge 1792:Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge 1728: 1726: 688:The National Weather Service (NWS) formula 1589: 1574: 1569: 1561: 1555: 1553: 1546: 1532: 1531: 1507: 1501: 1497: 1482: 1476: 1472: 1464: 1452: 1443: 1426: 1420: 1411: 1397: 1385: 1381: 1379: 1325: 1313: 1312: 1306: 1300: 1298: 1296: 1281: 1275: 1273: 1271: 1256: 1250: 1227: 1221: 1191: 1189: 1164: 1156: 1137: 1123: 1118: 1098: 1096: 1061: 1048: 1031: 1025: 1016: 1002: 994: 992: 937: 915: 893: 891: 866: 861: 858: 823: 803: 797: 795: 793: 781: 767: 761: 755: 727: 712: 707: 704: 660: 630: 600: 566: 539: 533: 503: 464: 458: 436: 410: 408: 368: 337: 330: 317: 308: 297: 288: 282: 255: 249: 241: 239: 193:slope may need to be taken into account. 104:adjusted for a non-standard temperature. 60:Learn how and when to remove this message 875:{\displaystyle {\text{DA}}_{\text{NWS}}} 1651: 154:) behaves similarly to lift on a wing. 7: 1675: 1673: 1777:"Air Density and Density Altitude" 568: 348: 261: 76:Density Altitude Computation Chart 14: 1113:, pressure altitude in feet (ft) 559:K, ISA sea-level air temperature; 1821: This article incorporates 1816: 451:, (static) atmospheric pressure; 23: 1796:Federal Aviation Administration 130:, and the relation between its 90:standard atmospheric conditions 1858:NewByte Atmospheric Calculator 1169: 1147: 1: 1790:Advisory Circular AC 61-23C, 1236:{\displaystyle T_{\text{OA}}} 548:{\displaystyle T_{\text{SL}}} 473:{\displaystyle P_{\text{SL}}} 1199:{\displaystyle {\text{QNH}}} 162:Aircraft taking off from a “ 126:generated by the aircraft's 1848:Density Altitude Calculator 1106:{\displaystyle {\text{PA}}} 901:{\displaystyle {\text{ft}}} 418:{\displaystyle {\text{DA}}} 1894: 1878:Atmospheric thermodynamics 1206:, atmospheric pressure in 651:gravitational acceleration 1351:ft of altitude until the 1125:station elevation in feet 982:ISA temperature deviation 1834:United States Government 694:National Weather Service 490:U.S. Standard Atmosphere 107:Both an increase in the 1701:"Tragedy in Antarctica" 1641:List of longest runways 1621:Outside air temperature 574:{\displaystyle \Gamma } 520:outside air temperature 174:, are at a significant 166:” airport, such as the 32:Some of this article's 1823:public domain material 1733:Walker-Radtke, Megan. 1605: 1337: 1237: 1200: 1176: 1107: 1079: 946: 924: 902: 876: 841: 669: 639: 609: 587:temperature lapse rate 575: 549: 512: 474: 445: 425:, density altitude in 419: 391: 111:and a decrease in the 77: 1873:Altitudes in aviation 1606: 1338: 1238: 1201: 1177: 1108: 1080: 947: 925: 903: 877: 842: 670: 640: 610: 576: 550: 513: 475: 446: 420: 392: 75: 1699:Farnsworth, Musika. 1378: 1249: 1220: 1188: 1117: 1095: 991: 936: 914: 890: 857: 703: 659: 629: 599: 565: 532: 502: 457: 435: 407: 238: 113:atmospheric pressure 98:above mean sea level 1807:2008-09-19 at the 1745:on 15 January 2015 1739:Parachutist Online 1711:on 15 January 2015 1705:Parachutist Online 1626:Barometric formula 1601: 1599: 1333: 1233: 1196: 1172: 1103: 1075: 954:degrees Fahrenheit 942: 920: 898: 872: 837: 665: 635: 621:ideal gas constant 605: 571: 545: 508: 482:standard sea-level 470: 441: 415: 387: 132:indicated airspeed 78: 1592: 1588: 1577: 1567: 1564: 1550: 1545: 1535: 1510: 1496: 1485: 1470: 1467: 1463: 1456: 1446: 1432: 1429: 1415: 1410: 1400: 1388: 1331: 1328: 1324: 1317: 1309: 1295: 1284: 1270: 1259: 1230: 1210:(mb) adjusted to 1194: 1167: 1159: 1155: 1145: 1144: 1141: 1136: 1126: 1101: 1088:In this formula, 1064: 1051: 1037: 1034: 1020: 1015: 1005: 997: 978:pressure altitude 945:{\displaystyle T} 923:{\displaystyle P} 896: 869: 864: 850:In this formula, 816: 806: 792: 780: 776: 775: 770: 754: 730: 726: 715: 710: 668:{\displaystyle M} 638:{\displaystyle g} 608:{\displaystyle R} 542: 511:{\displaystyle T} 494:inches of mercury 467: 444:{\displaystyle P} 413: 400:In this formula, 355: 324: 320: 300: 264: 258: 244: 102:pressure altitude 70: 69: 62: 1885: 1837: 1820: 1819: 1787: 1785: 1783: 1772: 1755: 1754: 1752: 1750: 1741:. Archived from 1730: 1721: 1720: 1718: 1716: 1707:. Archived from 1696: 1687: 1677: 1668: 1667: 1662:. Archived from 1656: 1610: 1608: 1607: 1602: 1600: 1593: 1590: 1586: 1579: 1578: 1575: 1568: 1566: 1565: 1562: 1560: 1559: 1554: 1548: 1547: 1543: 1536: 1533: 1521: 1517: 1513: 1512: 1511: 1508: 1506: 1505: 1494: 1487: 1486: 1483: 1481: 1480: 1471: 1469: 1468: 1465: 1461: 1454: 1453: 1448: 1447: 1444: 1433: 1431: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1424: 1413: 1412: 1408: 1401: 1398: 1389: 1386: 1370: 1366: 1363:Rounding up 1.98 1358: 1350: 1346: 1342: 1340: 1339: 1334: 1332: 1330: 1329: 1326: 1322: 1315: 1314: 1311: 1310: 1307: 1305: 1304: 1299: 1293: 1286: 1285: 1282: 1280: 1279: 1274: 1268: 1261: 1260: 1257: 1242: 1240: 1239: 1234: 1232: 1231: 1228: 1205: 1203: 1202: 1197: 1195: 1192: 1181: 1179: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1165: 1160: 1157: 1153: 1146: 1142: 1139: 1138: 1134: 1127: 1124: 1112: 1110: 1109: 1104: 1102: 1099: 1084: 1082: 1081: 1076: 1071: 1067: 1066: 1065: 1062: 1053: 1052: 1049: 1038: 1036: 1035: 1032: 1030: 1029: 1018: 1017: 1013: 1006: 1003: 998: 995: 974:density altitude 963: 951: 949: 948: 943: 929: 927: 926: 921: 907: 905: 904: 899: 897: 894: 881: 879: 878: 873: 871: 870: 867: 865: 862: 846: 844: 843: 838: 833: 829: 828: 827: 822: 818: 817: 815: 808: 807: 804: 802: 801: 796: 790: 782: 778: 777: 773: 772: 771: 768: 766: 765: 756: 752: 731: 728: 724: 717: 716: 713: 711: 708: 678: 674: 672: 671: 666: 648: 644: 642: 641: 636: 618: 614: 612: 611: 606: 592: 584: 580: 578: 577: 572: 558: 554: 552: 551: 546: 544: 543: 540: 517: 515: 514: 509: 479: 477: 476: 471: 469: 468: 465: 450: 448: 447: 442: 424: 422: 421: 416: 414: 411: 396: 394: 393: 388: 383: 379: 378: 377: 376: 375: 367: 363: 356: 354: 346: 338: 329: 325: 323: 322: 321: 318: 312: 303: 302: 301: 298: 292: 283: 265: 260: 259: 256: 250: 245: 242: 82:density altitude 65: 58: 54: 51: 45: 27: 19: 1893: 1892: 1888: 1887: 1886: 1884: 1883: 1882: 1863: 1862: 1844: 1826: 1817: 1813: 1809:Wayback Machine 1781: 1779: 1775: 1767: 1763: 1758: 1748: 1746: 1732: 1731: 1724: 1714: 1712: 1698: 1697: 1690: 1678: 1671: 1658: 1657: 1653: 1649: 1617: 1598: 1597: 1570: 1552: 1551: 1519: 1518: 1498: 1473: 1457: 1439: 1438: 1434: 1417: 1416: 1390: 1376: 1375: 1368: 1364: 1356: 1348: 1344: 1318: 1297: 1272: 1252: 1247: 1246: 1223: 1218: 1217: 1186: 1185: 1115: 1114: 1093: 1092: 1057: 1044: 1043: 1039: 1022: 1021: 989: 988: 970: 961: 934: 933: 912: 911: 888: 887: 860: 855: 854: 794: 786: 758: 757: 748: 744: 743: 736: 732: 706: 701: 700: 690: 676: 657: 656: 646: 627: 626: 616: 597: 596: 590: 582: 563: 562: 556: 535: 530: 529: 500: 499: 460: 455: 454: 433: 432: 405: 404: 347: 339: 336: 332: 331: 313: 304: 293: 284: 278: 277: 270: 266: 251: 236: 235: 229: 199: 144: 142:Aircraft safety 66: 55: 49: 46: 43: 28: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1891: 1889: 1881: 1880: 1875: 1865: 1864: 1861: 1860: 1855: 1850: 1843: 1842:External links 1840: 1839: 1838: 1812: 1811: 1799: 1798:, Revised 1997 1788: 1773: 1769:Air Navigation 1764: 1762: 1759: 1757: 1756: 1722: 1688: 1669: 1666:on 2016-12-23. 1650: 1648: 1645: 1644: 1643: 1638: 1633: 1631:Density of air 1628: 1623: 1616: 1613: 1612: 1611: 1596: 1585: 1582: 1573: 1558: 1542: 1539: 1530: 1527: 1524: 1522: 1520: 1516: 1504: 1500: 1493: 1490: 1479: 1475: 1460: 1451: 1442: 1437: 1423: 1419: 1407: 1404: 1396: 1393: 1391: 1384: 1383: 1361: 1360: 1357:36,000 ft 1321: 1303: 1292: 1289: 1278: 1267: 1264: 1255: 1244: 1226: 1215: 1212:mean sea level 1183: 1171: 1163: 1152: 1149: 1133: 1130: 1122: 1086: 1085: 1074: 1070: 1060: 1056: 1047: 1042: 1028: 1024: 1012: 1009: 1001: 969: 966: 958: 957: 941: 931: 919: 909: 848: 847: 836: 832: 826: 821: 814: 811: 800: 789: 785: 764: 760: 751: 747: 742: 739: 735: 723: 720: 689: 686: 685: 684: 664: 654: 634: 624: 604: 594: 570: 560: 538: 527: 507: 497: 463: 452: 440: 430: 398: 397: 386: 382: 374: 371: 366: 362: 359: 353: 350: 345: 342: 335: 328: 316: 311: 307: 296: 291: 287: 281: 276: 273: 269: 263: 254: 248: 228: 225: 198: 195: 187: 186: 183: 160: 159: 155: 143: 140: 134:(IAS) and its 68: 67: 34:listed sources 31: 29: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1890: 1879: 1876: 1874: 1871: 1870: 1868: 1859: 1856: 1854: 1851: 1849: 1846: 1845: 1841: 1835: 1831: 1830: 1824: 1815: 1814: 1810: 1806: 1803: 1800: 1797: 1793: 1789: 1778: 1774: 1770: 1766: 1765: 1760: 1744: 1740: 1736: 1729: 1727: 1723: 1710: 1706: 1702: 1695: 1693: 1689: 1686: 1682: 1676: 1674: 1670: 1665: 1661: 1655: 1652: 1646: 1642: 1639: 1637: 1634: 1632: 1629: 1627: 1624: 1622: 1619: 1618: 1614: 1594: 1583: 1580: 1571: 1556: 1540: 1537: 1528: 1525: 1523: 1514: 1502: 1499: 1491: 1488: 1477: 1474: 1458: 1449: 1440: 1435: 1421: 1418: 1405: 1402: 1394: 1392: 1374: 1373: 1372: 1359:) is reached. 1354: 1319: 1301: 1290: 1287: 1276: 1265: 1262: 1253: 1245: 1224: 1216: 1213: 1209: 1184: 1161: 1150: 1131: 1128: 1120: 1091: 1090: 1089: 1072: 1068: 1058: 1054: 1045: 1040: 1026: 1023: 1010: 1007: 999: 987: 986: 985: 983: 979: 975: 967: 965: 955: 939: 932: 917: 910: 885: 853: 852: 851: 834: 830: 824: 819: 812: 809: 798: 787: 783: 762: 759: 749: 745: 740: 737: 733: 721: 718: 699: 698: 697: 695: 687: 682: 662: 655: 652: 632: 625: 622: 602: 595: 588: 561: 536: 528: 525: 521: 505: 498: 495: 491: 487: 483: 461: 453: 438: 431: 428: 403: 402: 401: 384: 380: 372: 369: 364: 360: 357: 351: 343: 340: 333: 326: 314: 309: 305: 294: 289: 285: 279: 274: 271: 267: 252: 246: 234: 233: 232: 226: 224: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 196: 194: 192: 184: 181: 180: 179: 177: 173: 169: 168:Quito Airport 165: 156: 153: 149: 148: 147: 141: 139: 137: 136:true airspeed 133: 129: 125: 120: 118: 114: 110: 105: 103: 99: 95: 92:at which the 91: 87: 83: 74: 64: 61: 53: 41: 40: 35: 30: 26: 21: 20: 1828: 1791: 1780:. Retrieved 1768: 1747:. Retrieved 1743:the original 1738: 1713:. Retrieved 1709:the original 1704: 1664:the original 1654: 1636:Hot and high 1362: 1347:°C per 1,000 1087: 981: 977: 973: 971: 959: 849: 691: 486:hectopascals 399: 230: 200: 188: 164:hot and high 161: 145: 121: 106: 88:relative to 81: 79: 56: 47: 36: 683:of dry air. 615:≈ 8.3144598 227:Calculation 176:aerodynamic 172:Mexico City 158:conditions. 109:temperature 94:air density 37:may not be 1867:Categories 1761:References 1749:14 January 1715:14 January 1353:tropopause 681:molar mass 675:≈ 0.028964 488:(hPa), or 1782:9 January 1685:1047-6415 1581:− 1557:∘ 1503:∘ 1489:− 1478:∘ 1422:∘ 1395:≈ 1302:∘ 1288:− 1277:∘ 1263:≈ 1208:millibars 1162:− 1121:≈ 1055:− 1027:∘ 1000:≈ 976:from the 799:∘ 763:∘ 741:− 722:145442.16 645:≈ 9.80665 619:J/mol·K, 589:(below 11 585:K/m, ISA 569:Γ 370:− 358:− 349:Γ 275:− 262:Γ 247:≈ 220:free-fall 204:drop zone 197:Skydiving 50:July 2013 1805:Archived 1615:See also 980:and the 679:kg/mol, 581:= 0.0065 555:= 288.15 492:: 29.92 128:airfoils 117:humidity 86:altitude 39:reliable 1794:, U.S. 1367:°C to 2 524:kelvins 496:(inHg); 216:hypoxia 152:airfoil 84:is the 1683:  1587:  1544:  1529:1.2376 1495:  1462:  1409:  1369:  1365:  1349:  1345:  1323:  1294:  1269:  1154:  1135:  1014:  962:  791:  788:459.67 779:  753:  750:17.326 725:  677:  647:  617:  591:  583:  557:  427:meters 191:runway 1825:from 1647:Notes 1541:118.8 1406:118.8 1011:118.8 956:(°F). 825:0.235 649:m/s, 1784:2006 1751:2015 1717:2015 1681:ISSN 1584:1782 1355:(at 1320:1000 1291:1.98 1151:1013 964:ft. 884:feet 774:inHg 692:The 593:km); 526:(K); 429:(m); 124:lift 80:The 1459:500 1258:ISA 1193:QNH 1166:QNH 1063:ISA 868:NWS 714:NWS 522:in 212:QFE 208:QNH 170:or 1869:: 1832:. 1737:. 1725:^ 1703:. 1691:^ 1672:^ 1591:ft 1576:OA 1549:ft 1534:PA 1492:15 1466:ft 1455:PA 1445:OA 1414:ft 1399:PA 1387:DA 1327:ft 1316:PA 1266:15 1229:OA 1158:mb 1143:mb 1140:ft 1132:27 1100:PA 1050:OA 1019:ft 1004:PA 996:DA 984:: 908:); 895:ft 863:DA 729:ft 709:DA 541:SL 518:, 480:, 466:SL 412:DA 319:SL 299:SL 257:SL 243:DA 1836:. 1786:. 1753:. 1719:. 1595:. 1572:T 1563:C 1538:+ 1526:= 1515:] 1509:C 1484:C 1450:+ 1441:T 1436:[ 1428:C 1403:+ 1308:C 1283:C 1254:T 1225:T 1214:; 1182:; 1170:) 1148:( 1129:+ 1073:. 1069:) 1059:T 1046:T 1041:( 1033:C 1008:+ 940:T 918:P 886:( 835:. 831:) 820:] 813:T 810:+ 805:F 784:P 769:F 746:[ 738:1 734:( 719:= 663:M 653:; 633:g 623:; 603:R 537:T 506:T 462:P 439:P 385:. 381:] 373:1 365:) 361:1 352:R 344:M 341:g 334:( 327:) 315:T 310:/ 306:T 295:P 290:/ 286:P 280:( 272:1 268:[ 253:T 210:/ 63:) 57:( 52:) 48:( 42:.

Index


listed sources
reliable
Learn how and when to remove this message

altitude
standard atmospheric conditions
air density
above mean sea level
pressure altitude
temperature
atmospheric pressure
humidity
lift
airfoils
indicated airspeed
true airspeed
airfoil
hot and high
Quito Airport
Mexico City
aerodynamic
runway
drop zone
QNH
QFE
hypoxia
free-fall
meters
standard sea-level

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.