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  • Chapter 8: Flight Instruments › Altimeter Operation

    altimeter indicates an altitude above the actual field elevation. If the barometric pressure setting is reset to the current altimeter setting of 29.68 "Hg, then the field elevation is again indicated on the altimeter. This pressure change ... easily noticed in flight since aircraft fly at specific altitudes. The aircraft steadily decreases true altitude while the altimeter is held constant through pilot action as discussed in the previous section. Knowing the aircraft’s altitude is vitally important…

  • Chapter 4: Energy Management: Mastering Altitude and Airspeed Control › Viewing the Airplane as an Energy System › A Frame of Reference for Managing Energy State

    example, if the pilot decides to put all the surplus energy into altitude, the airplane can climb at a constant airspeed. [Figure 4-1A] If the pilot opts to place all the surplus energy into airspeed, the airplane ... accelerate while maintaining altitude. [Figure 4-1B] When drag exceeds thrust, (T – D < 0), the airplane's total mechanical energy decreases. The pilot has two sources of stored energy to tap into. For example, the pilot may choose…

  • Chapter 7: Ground Reference Maneuvers › Elementary Eights › Eights on Pylons

    Figure 7-12. Speed versus pivotal altitude. Distance from the pylon affects the angle of bank. At any altitude above that pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move rearward in a circular path in relation to the pylon ... Conversely, when the airplane is below the pivotal altitude, the projected reference line appears to move forward in a circular path. [Figure 7-13] To demonstrate this, the pilot will fly at maneuvering speed and at an altitude below…

  • Chapter 3: Arrivals › Descending From the En Route Altitude

    Descending From the En Route Altitude Making the transition from cruise flight to the beginning of an instrument approach procedure sometimes requires arriving at a given waypoint at an assigned altitude. When this requirement is prescribed by a published arrival ... restriction. Even when ATC allows a descent at the pilot’s discretion, aircrews need to choose a waypoint and altitude for positioning convenient to start the approach. In either case, descending from a cruising altitude to a given waypoint…

  • Chapter 7. Safety of Flight › Section 2. Barometric Altimeter Errors and Setting Procedures › 7-3-5. Cold Temperature Airport Procedures

    Cold Temperature Airport Procedures a. PILOTS MUST NOT MAKE AN ALTIMETER CHANGE to accomplish an altitude correction. Pilots must ensure that the altimeter is set to the current altimeter setting provided by ATC in accordance with ... Actions on when and where to make corrections: Pilots will make an altitude correction to the published, “at”, “at or above”, and “at or below” altitudes on all designated segment(s) to all runways for all published instrument approach procedures…