Measuring An Aircraft's Altitude | Aeroplane

To measure an aircraft’s altitude, pilots use a combination of barometric (pressure‑based) altimeters, radar (radio) altimeters, and GNSS (like GPS) systems. 

Barometric (pressure) altimeter
Most altitude readings in aviation come from a barometric altimeter, which is essentially a modified barometer that measures outside air pressure. 

Because atmospheric pressure decreases with height, the altimeter converts this pressure into an altitude above mean sea level (MSL), using a standard atmosphere model (ISA) and a reference pressure setting (QNH, QFE, or 1013.25 hPa). 

Radar altimeter
A radar altimeter sends radio waves downward and measures the time it takes for the signal to bounce back from the ground. 

This gives height above ground level (AGL) and is especially important for landing and low‑level flight, where knowing the exact distance from the terrain is critical. 

GNSS and other systems
Modern aircraft also use GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) like GPS, which can compute geometric altitude by comparing the aircraft’s position with the Earth’s reference ellipsoid. 

These satellite‑based altitudes are often cross‑checked with barometric and radar altimeters to improve accuracy and safety, especially in complex or automated flight modes. 

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