
Though both the altitude and the flight level are measured in the units of length and distance (meters, kilometers, feet, and miles), they are actually different physical values: The main difference between the US Standard Atmosphere (USSA) and ISA is mainly in the assumed temperature distribution at higher altitudes, which are not covered in this converter.Ī modern drum-type installed in the Fokker 100 cockpit altimeter with two small Kollsman windows showing pressure in hectopascals and inches of mercury The model divides the atmosphere into seven layers to a maximum of 86 km. Standard Atmosphere model represents the Earth’s atmosphere pressure, temperature, density and viscosity distributions at various altitudes.

scientific, governmental, military and engineering organizations. The equations used are adopted by the United States Committee on Extension to the Standard Atmosphere (COESA), which represented 29 U.S. The model is based on existing international standards and is largely consistent in methodology with the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA). Standard Atmosphere,1976 is an idealized, steady-state representation of the earth’s atmosphere from the surface to 1000 km”.

It is published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as an international standard ISO 2533:1975. The International Standard Atmosphere is one such model. Their use is necessary for aircraft development, for studying their performance, for comparing the performance of different aircraft and for many other aeronautic and aviation science applications.Ī concept of the standard atmosphere was developed to standardize calibration of pressure in altimeters, for studying the performance of aircraft engines where knowledge of air density, pressure and temperature at mean sea level (MSL) and their distribution as a function of altitude is essential. These models are known as “standard atmospheres”. The Earth’s atmosphere is constantly changing, therefore, hypothetical models were developed as an approximation of what may be expected assuming the air does not contain dust or moisture and there is no winds or turbulence. Pressure altitude is primarily used in aircraft performance calculations and in high-altitude flight (above the transition altitude).Definitions, Constants, and Formulas Used in Calculations This setting is equivalent to the air pressure at mean sea level ( MSL) in the International Standard Atmosphere ( ISA). “Standard” pressure, the baseline used universally, is 1013.25 hPa, equivalent to 1013.25 mbar or 29.92 inHg (inches of mercury). Old altimeters were typically limited to show altitude when set between 950 mbar and 1030 mbar. Examples would be landing at a very high altitude or near sea level in conditions of exceptionally high air pressure. In aviation, pressure altitude is the indicated altitude when an altimeter is set to an agreed baseline pressure setting under certain circumstances where the aircraft’s altimeter would be unable to give a useful readout of altitude. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published the following formula for converting directly from pressure in millibars to altitude in feet, as shown here.


Pressure altitude within the atmosphere is the altitude in the International Standard Atmosphere with the same pressure as the part of the atmosphere in question.
