Aero Fact: Pressure Altitude vs Density Altitude
Density altitude incorporates temperature to indicate performance impacts beyond pressure altitude alone.
By AircoreDynamics •
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1 min read
Definition: Pressure altitude adjusted for temperature — an “equivalent” altitude for performance.
Physics insight: As ρ(T,p) falls, takeoff distance increases and climb worsens.
Example: Hot-and-high fields can dramatically increase takeoff distances.
DA ≈ PA + [120 ft/°C] × (OAT - ISA)
Rules of thumb: Add margin for runway length and obstacle clearance.
Common pitfalls: Forgetting wind and slope effects.
References: AFM performance section