Density altitude is

Density altitude is

• A. The altitude above sea level corresponding to current density
• B. The pressure altitude corrected for temperature
• C. The height above sea level for a given pressure under standard temperature
• D. The altitude corrected for humidity

Answer: (B)

Density altitude tells you the altitude at which the air density would be under standard conditions. In aviation practice, this is found by taking the current pressure altitude and correcting it for nonstandard temperature. When the air is warmer than standard, the air is less dense, so density altitude increases; the aircraft behaves as if it were at a higher altitude—less engine power, less lift, longer takeoff distance, and reduced climb performance. Humidity does affect density too, but the primary correction used to define density altitude is for temperature, which is why this option—pressure altitude corrected for temperature—is the best description. The other formulations either describe different concepts (like plain pressure altitude or a looser statement about density) or omit the temperature correction that drives density changes.

Density altitude tells you the altitude at which the air density would be under standard conditions. In aviation practice, this is found by taking the current pressure altitude and correcting it for nonstandard temperature. When the air is warmer than standard, the air is less dense, so density altitude increases; the aircraft behaves as if it were at a higher altitude—less engine power, less lift, longer takeoff distance, and reduced climb performance. Humidity does affect density too, but the primary correction used to define density altitude is for temperature, which is why this option—pressure altitude corrected for temperature—is the best description. The other formulations either describe different concepts (like plain pressure altitude or a looser statement about density) or omit the temperature correction that drives density changes.