FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook Practice Test 2026 - Free Helicopter Flying Practice Questions and Study Guide

Pressure altitude is the altitude above the standard pressure level where the pressure is 29.92 inHg in the International Standard Atmosphere. When the altimeter is set to 29.92, the instrument directly indicates how high you are above that 29.92 inHg pressure surface. This reference is used for flight levels and performance planning, because it ties altitude to a standard pressure regardless of local conditions. True altitude is height above mean sea level, and density altitude accounts for temperature effects on air density, while absolute altitude is height above the ground.