Can someone explain the difference between MSL and AGL in a simple way for me to understand?
now that this poor chap has become totally confused allow me an attempt, MSL is the published elevation of the airport above sea level, for instance if the published airport elevation is 560 then your altimeter ( used to determine your altitude while flying ) will if calibrated correctly read 560 when the altimeter is set to the correct current barometric pressure. Standard pressure is considered 29.92. As pressure variations exist over broad areas, this setting is updated from time to time to ensure that you are getting a correct reading now read as altitude above MSL. AGL is the difference between the MSL displayed altitude and the actual terrain elevation. In a hypothetical situation if you are flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet MSL over terrain that rises from say 600 feet MSL to say 3,000 feet MSL then you can see that your actual altitude AGL will become lower as you fly into rising terrain. Aeronautical charts (low level) will show obstacles heights such as radio towers as abov
