absolute altimeter

absolute altimeter

[′ab·sə‚lüt al′tim·ə·dər]

(engineering)

An instrument which employs radio, sonic, or capacitive technology to produce on its indicator the measurement of distance from the aircraft to the terrain below. Also known as terrain-clearance indicator.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

absolute altimeter

A radio altimeter roughly indicates absolute altitude.

An instrument intended to give acceptably accurate, direct indications of absolute altitude (i.e., the vertical distance of the aircraft from the surface of the earth). A radio or a radar altimeter indicates absolute altitude roughly because of its inherent errors. Theoretically, a laser altimeter should indicate correct absolute altitude and can therefore be called an absolute altimeter.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved