Altimeter Setting

Altimeter Setting

Altimeter Setting refers to the barometric pressure setting used to adjust a pressure altimeter in accordance with variations that exist in atmospheric pressure and temperature. This setting is crucial in enabling the altimeter to provide accurate altitude readings for the aircraft.

The measurement of the station pressure, or the barometric pressure at the location where the reading is taken, is also significant in this process. This pressure measurement needs to be corrected for the altitude of the station above sea level. This is because atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases. Therefore, without this correction, the altitude readings on the altimeter may be inaccurate since they would be based on pressure measurements taken at different altitudes.

The correct Altimeter Setting ensures that the altimeter’s indications will correspond to the aircraft’s actual altitude above sea level. Pilots must periodically adjust their altimeter settings to reflect any changes in atmospheric pressure or when they fly from one location to another. This adjustment is essential for safe and accurate flying.