radar altitude

radar altitude

[′rā‚där ′al·tə‚tüd]

(navigation)

The altitude of an aircraft or spacecraft as determined by a radio altimeter; thus, the actual vertical distance from the terrain. Also known as radio altitude.

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

radar altitude

The altitude of an aircraft determined by a radar altimeter. This is the actual distance between the aircraft and the terrain feature below the aircraft. Radar altitude is very close to absolute altitude. See absolute altitude.

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