1. What is Pressure Altitude?

Definition: Pressure altitude is the altitude in the standard atmosphere where the pressure equals the measured station pressure.

Purpose: It's a critical parameter in aviation for aircraft performance calculations, flight planning, and altimeter settings.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Station pressure in hectopascals (hPa)
• 145442 — Constant in feet
• 1013.25 — Standard pressure at sea level in hPa
• 0.19026 — Exponent constant for atmospheric calculations

Explanation: The formula calculates what altitude in the standard atmosphere would produce the given station pressure.

3. Importance of Pressure Altitude

Details: Pilots use pressure altitude to determine aircraft performance characteristics like takeoff distance, climb rate, and true airspeed calculations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the current station pressure in hPa (hectopascals). The value must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Where can I find the station pressure?
A: Check METAR reports from nearby airports or use an aviation weather app/service.

Q2: What's the standard sea level pressure?
A: 1013.25 hPa (or 29.92 inches of mercury in imperial units).

Q3: How does pressure altitude differ from true altitude?
A: Pressure altitude shows altitude in standard atmosphere, while true altitude is your actual height above sea level.

Q4: Why is pressure altitude important for pilots?
A: Aircraft performance charts use pressure altitude as the reference for all calculations.

Q5: Can I use this for high-altitude calculations?
A: Yes, the formula works for all altitudes where the standard atmosphere model applies.