Newbie: Altimeter reads high during training

[slarente]

Hi,

The altimeter will always give you the altitude above sea level. This means that the airfield you are at is about 500ft above sea level. This is important to know before taking off since you will have to "aim" for 500ft for the landing;)

I suggest that you try an airport in Colorado or the Andes, you will then see the altimeter showing several thousand feet on the runway level.

Hope this helps!

[ladamson]

The altimeter should be showing the airports altitude above sea level (MSL). Since I don't know this particular airport's altitude, I'll assume it's around 500'.

If ATC instructs you to fly at 2500', that is again 2500' above sea level. That way, all aircraft are flying with the same altitude settings, and not specific to the runway height of a particular airport.

For pattern height purposes, you need to know the airports altitude & subtract it from the altitude presented on your altimeter.

Ladamson

[ppowell]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. I have a lot to learn but that's half the fun!

That must make it difficult on pilots when flying into unfamiliar airports, especially in foggy conditions when they can't actually see the runway! Is there some anouncement of the MSL or do you have to just know it by looking at charts or airport guides?

Regards,
Paul

[slarente]

Airport charts are published and updated with all the needed information. They also provide all the information for intrument approaches and departures, etc. Commercial aviation couldn't exist without them these days...

Good luck in the learning process. Like you said, it is half the fun. And it never stops! There is always something new to learn :D

[lnuss]

In foggy conditions, charts are required by the FAA (not to mention good sense). In visual conditions, you still should have, at the least, a sectional chart for navigation. It's more than just field elevation that requires the charts. Obstructions, appropriate frequencies, airspace types, etc. are also depicted on these charts, and these are things you MUST know about.

Of course the commentary above is for real world flying, but while it's not required for FS, it can often be helpful.

You can also access the built-in map in FS to get some of this information (view menu, I think).

[flyinggriffin]

After a while in real world flying you are quickly introduced to landing without the altimeter. As Larry N. has probably done countless times, the CFI will cover the instruments to make sure you can land the airplane safely without various gages just by judging the size of the trees and buildings.

[Kerosene31]

>After a while in real world flying you are quickly
>introduced to landing without the altimeter. As Larry N. has
>probably done countless times, the CFI will cover the
>instruments to make sure you can land the airplane safely
>without various gages just by judging the size of the trees
>and buildings.

But what if I turn off Autogen??? :P

[csknight]

Don't forget you can calibrate your altimeter....

[robbie1472]

That is interesting. I suppose that it is covered before entering the pattern. I fly VFR and rarely use the altimiter on final(thinking about it probably never because you're too busy keeping the runway lined up). I check it entering downwind to make sure I'm 1000ft agl, then it's using sight out the window.

[lnuss]

It won't matter -- autogen doesn't display the things you need for a visual landing.