A preflight check to determine the condition of an altimeter consists of setting the barometric scale to the local altimeter setting. The altimeter should indicate the surveyed elevation of the airport. If the indication is off by more than 75 feet from the surveyed elevation, the instrument should be referred to a certificated instrument repair station for recalibration. Differences between ambient temperature and/or pressure causes an erroneous indication on the altimeter.

When the aircraft is flying in air that is warmer than standard, the air is less dense and the pressure levels are farther apart. When the aircraft is flying at an indicated altitude of 5,000 feet, the pressure level for that altitude is higher than it would be in air at standard temperature, and the aircraft is higher than it would be if the air were cooler. If the air is colder than standard, it is denser and the pressure levels are closer together. When the aircraft is flying at an indicated altitude of 5,000 feet, its true altitude is lower than it would be if the air were warmer. [Figure 5-6]

A correctly calibrated pressure altimeter indicates true altitude above mean sea level (MSL) when operating within the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) parameters of pressure and temperature. Nonstandard pressure conditions are corrected by applying the correct local area altimeter setting.

Temperature errors from ISA result in true altitude being higher than indicated altitude whenever the temperature is warmer than ISA and true altitude being lower than indicated altitude whenever the temperature is colder than ISA. True altitude variance under conditions of colder than ISA temperatures poses the risk of inadequate obstacle clearance.

Under extremely cold conditions, pilots may need to add an appropriate temperature correction determined from the chart in Figure 5-7 to charted IFR altitudes to ensure terrain and obstacle clearance with the following restrictions:

The cold temperature induced altimeter error may be significant when considering obstacle clearances when temperatures are well below standard. Pilots may wish to increase their minimum terrain clearance altitudes with a corresponding increase in ceiling from the normal minimum when flying in extreme cold temperature conditions. Higher altitudes may need to be selected when flying at low terrain clearances. Most flight management systems (FMS) with air data computers implement a capability to compensate for cold temperature errors. Pilots flying with these systems should ensure they are aware of the conditions under which the system automatically compensates. If compensation is applied by the FMS or manually, ATC must be informed that the aircraft is not flying the assigned altitude. Otherwise, vertical separation from other aircraft may be reduced creating a potentially hazardous situation. The table in Figure 5-7, derived from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard formulas, shows how much error can exist when the temperature is extremely cold. To use the table, find the reported temperature in the left column, and then read across the top row to the height above the airport/reporting station. Subtract the airport elevation from the altitude of the final approach fix (FAF). The intersection of the column and row is the amount of possible error.

Example: The reported temperature is –10 degrees Celsius (°C) and the FAF is 500 feet above the airport elevation. The reported current altimeter setting may place the aircraft as much as 50 feet below the altitude indicated by the altimeter.

When using the cold temperature error table, the altitude error is proportional to both the height above the reporting station elevation and the temperature at the reporting station. For IFR approach procedures, the reporting station elevation is assumed to be airport elevation. It is important to understand that corrections are based upon the temperature at the reporting station, not the temperature observed at the aircraft’s current altitude and height above the reporting station and not the charted IFR altitude.

To see how corrections are applied, note the following example: Airport Elevation 496 feet Airport Temperature –50 °C

A charted IFR approach to the airport provides the following data: Minimum Procedure Turn Altitude 1,800 feet Minimum FAF Crossing Altitude 1,200 feet Straight-in Minimum Descent Altitude 800 feet Circling Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) 1,000 feet

The Minimum Procedure Turn Altitude of 1,800 feet is used as an example to demonstrate determination of the appropriate temperature correction. Typically, altitude values are rounded up to the nearest 100-foot level. The charted procedure turn altitude of 1,800 feet minus the airport elevation of 500 feet equals 1,300 feet. The altitude difference of 1,300 feet falls between the correction chart elevations of 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet. At the station temperature of –50 °C, the correction falls between 300 feet and 450 feet. Dividing the difference in compensation values by the difference in altitude above the airport gives the error value per foot.

In this case, 150 feet divided by 500 feet = 0.33 feet for each additional foot of altitude above 1,000 feet. This provides a correction of 300 feet for the first 1,000 feet and an additional value of 0.33 times 300 feet, or 99 feet, which is rounded to 100 feet. 300 feet + 100 feet = total temperature correction of 400 feet. For the given conditions, correcting the charted value of 1,800 feet above MSL (equal to a height above the reporting station of 1,300 feet) requires the addition of 400 feet. Thus, when flying at an indicated altitude of 2,200 feet, the aircraft is actually flying a true altitude of 1,800 feet.

Minimum Procedure Turn Altitude 1,800 feet charted = 2,200 feet corrected Minimum FAF Crossing Altitude 1,200 feet charted = 1,500 feet corrected Straight-in MDA 800 feet charted = 900 feet corrected Circling MDA 1,000 feet charted = 1,200 feet corrected