Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T15:41:42.076Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Accurate Determination of Aircraft Altitude

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2010

J. Warner
J. Warner
Affiliation:
(Division of Radiophysics, C.S.I.R., Australia)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

A method of obtaining aircraft altitude to within 50 feet at altitudes of 10,000 to 20,000 feet is described. This accuracy is necessary in a few special cases. The method consists of determining the height of a pressure level at some convenient point by radar or other means, and then calculating from a knowledge of the wind vector the change of height of this pressure level between the check point and the point at which an accurate altitude is required. The limitations of alternative methods of height finding, such as the use of an aneroid altimeter corrected for temperature at the upper level, are discussed.

For most purposes the aircraft type aneroid altimeter gives a sufficiently accurate indication of height, provided corrections are made for the temperature at flight level. In the application of radar to topographical surveying, however, it is necessary to know the altitude of the aircraft used in the measurement to within 50 feet when flying at heights of 10,000 to 20,000 feet. This can be achieved only by special techniques. The method here outlined has been used extensively during investigations into the use of radar for surveying. It is simple and appears to give satisfactory results.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , February 1949 , pp. 159 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1949

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1Humphreys, W. J.; 1940; Physics of the Air; 3rd edition; p. 72 ; McGraw Hill, New York.Google Scholar
2Bellamy, J. C.; 1945; J. Meteorol.; volume 2, No 1 ; p. 1.Google Scholar
3Loewe, F.; 1945; Comm. of Aust. Met. Bureau, No. 33.Google Scholar
4Bull, G. A; 1948; Met. Mag.; volume 77, Nos. 907, 908; pp. 6—11, 29—33.Google Scholar
5Haurwitz, B.; 1941, Dynamic Meteorology, 1st edition; p. 147; McGraw Hill, New York.Google Scholar
6Pressure pattern flying; 1948; this Journal; volume 1 ; No. 1 ; pp. 40–65.Google Scholar
7Gold, E.; 1908; Meteorological Office of Great Britain, No. 190.Google Scholar
8Houghton, H. G., and Austin, J. M.; 1946; J. Meteorol.; volume 3, No. 3; p. 57.Google Scholar