A radar altimeter measures an aircraft’s absolute altitude above the ground by directing radio waves at the ground and reading the reflected signals. It is an essential flight aid and part of the ground proximity warning system, providing accurate ground clearance and runway clearance readings. Radar altimeters have limited range but are critical for early […]
Pressure altimeters measure altitude in aircraft by subtracting atmospheric pressure from sea level pressure. They are calibrated barometers with a mechanical readout display in the cockpit. The sea level pressure must be set before takeoff and adjusted during flight if necessary. Errors can occur due to mechanical, scaling, hysteresis, reverse, or installation/location issues. Pressure altimeters […]
