What is the difference between Density Altitude and Pressure Altitude?
First the definitions: Pressure altitude is the altitude that would show on your altimeter if you set 29.92 in the subscale window. Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. Now the explanation of what that means: You know about the international standard atmosphere (ISA), right? Imagine a column of air that has ISA conditions: 15 deg C and 29.92″ Hg pressure at sea level, and then temperature decreasing 1.98 degrees and pressure decreasing 1″ for every 1000′ feet you go up. Consider this atmosphere.. Your pressure altitude is the altitude you would have to be at in the ISA in order to experience the pressure you are experiencing at your altitude. You know that air temperature affects your performance. The hotter it is, the poorer the performance. If the temperature is higher than standard temperature, as far as your airplane is concerned, it is the same as being at a higher altitude. Your density altitude is the altitude you would have to be at in t
