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Density Altitude Calculator

Calculate aircraft performance altitude

Pre-flightHot & high opsTakeoff performance

Density altitude decides whether your runway is long enough today.

The same paved strip that launched you yesterday might refuse you this afternoon. At 3,000 ft pressure altitude and 30°C, your indicated density altitude is closer to 5,500 ft — takeoff run can grow 30-50%, climb rate can halve.

Input Values

feet

Results

Low Impact

Pressure Altitude

0

feet

Density Altitude

0

feet

ISA Deviation

0

degrees C

Performance Note

Normal aircraft performance expected

About Density Altitude

About Density Altitude Density Altitude is the altitude at which the aircraft "feels" like it's flying, based on actual air density. Higher density altitude means thinner air and reduced aircraft performance.

Factors that increase density altitude: high temperature, low pressure, high humidity, high elevation.

ISA Deviation ISA Deviation shows how much the actual temperature differs from the International Standard Atmosphere temperature at the given altitude (15C at sea level, decreasing 2C per 1000ft).

Density Altitude (ISA Model)
DA = PA + (118.8 × (OAT − ISA_temp))
DA— Density altitude (feet)
PA— Pressure altitude (feet)
OAT— Outside air temperature (°C)
ISA_temp— ISA temperature at PA: 15 − 1.98 × (PA/1000)

How does density altitude affect your aircraft's performance?