What does a flight level indicate altitude as?

What does a flight level indicate altitude as?

• A. True altitude
• B. Indicated altitude
• C. Density altitude
• D. Pressure altitude

Answer: (D)

Flight levels are altitude readouts based on a fixed standard atmosphere. When the altimeter is set to the standard pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury, the instrument indicates pressure altitude. A flight level is essentially that pressure altitude expressed in hundreds of feet, used above the transition altitude to keep vertical separation consistent regardless of local weather pressure. This means a flight level reflects altitude relative to the standard pressure surface, not the true height above mean sea level, nor the indicated altitude you’d read with a local setting, and it’s not influenced by air density. For example, being at a flight level of 100 corresponds to a pressure altitude of about 10,000 feet.

Flight levels are altitude readouts based on a fixed standard atmosphere. When the altimeter is set to the standard pressure of 29.92 inches of mercury, the instrument indicates pressure altitude. A flight level is essentially that pressure altitude expressed in hundreds of feet, used above the transition altitude to keep vertical separation consistent regardless of local weather pressure. This means a flight level reflects altitude relative to the standard pressure surface, not the true height above mean sea level, nor the indicated altitude you’d read with a local setting, and it’s not influenced by air density. For example, being at a flight level of 100 corresponds to a pressure altitude of about 10,000 feet.