PLT345: Pressure Altitude
What code PLT345 covers, why the FAA tests it, and how to study Pressure Altitude before your checkride.
Recall pressure altitude
What this means for your checkride
Pressure altitude is the height above the standard datum plane, the level where atmospheric pressure equals the standard 29.92 inches of mercury. It is read by setting the altimeter to 29.92 and is the reference used for performance calculations and for flight at high altitudes. Because it removes local pressure variation, it gives a common reference for computing aircraft performance.
Pilots must compute pressure altitude to use performance charts and to fly standard flight levels correctly.
Students confuse pressure altitude with true altitude, but pressure altitude is tied to the standard datum plane, not the actual height above the ground.
Where to study it
A code on your test report is an area of deficiency. An authorized instructor must review it with you and endorse that review before you take the practical test, and the examiner may revisit it during the oral. Study it until you can explain it out loud, not just recognize the answer.