KNOWLEDGE BASE
Aircraft Performance and Density Altitude: A Critical Correlation to Flight Safety W r i t t e n B y: S e r g i o S o v e r o
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t is unquestionable that the effects of density altitude could be significantly detrimental to flight safety. Following a linear correlation, an increase in density altitude leads to degraded performance. Among the many factors capable of causing loss of aircraft control and controlled flights into terrain (CFIT), density altitude is one of the most insidious, subtle and commonly overlooked elements. Density altitude is defined as pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. The dynamics of atmosphere result in fluctuations, either warmer or colder than standard, and therefor leading to instability of density altitude. As a rule of thumb, high density altitude equals poor performance. The principle can be evidenced by referencing an aircraft flight
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