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3 Answers

What does “at altitude” mean?

Asked by: 10988 views General Aviation

When pilots refer to being "at altitude", what exactly do they mean?

I would assume "at altitude" would be any height above the ground...not exactly a specific altitude.

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3 Answers



  1. Kent Shook on Jan 04, 2011

    I would take “at altitude” to mean “at cruise altitude.” That’s how I’ve always heard it used.
     

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  2. Matthew Waugh on Jan 05, 2011

    I’ve also heard it used in place of “safe altitude” in a briefing. As in “we’ll climb straight ahead and fix the problem at altitude”, but I agree that the more common usage is at cruise, we’ve settled in, got our drinks and snacks organised, pulled out the reading material and “now what particularl political point did you want to discuss at altitude?”

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  3. Nathan on Jun 05, 2014

    At altitude for necessary maneuver. Cruise, practicing stalls, acro, any maneuver that had a designated altitude for safety or preference. Or just previously discussed altitude. On take off, “at altitude you can turn out 180 and continue to climb.” Some planes, and airports have a pre determined altitude before you should start to turn.

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