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If a pilot flies from a high-pressure area into a low-pressure area without resetting the altimeter, the altimeter will:

Choices

  • Read lower than the true altitude

    It over-reads, not under-reads, in this scenario.

  • ✓ Read higher than the true altitudecorrect

    "High to low, look out below" — the altimeter over-reads, so true altitude is lower than indicated.

  • Read exactly the true altitude

    Without resetting, the reading is in error.

  • Freeze and stop moving

    A pressure change does not freeze the altimeter; that is a static blockage symptom.

Why

Flying from high to low pressure without resetting causes the altimeter to indicate higher than the true altitude, so the aircraft is actually lower than shown — "high to low, look out below."

FAA source: PHAK Ch. 8browse the reference library →

This is taught in The Pitot-Static Instruments and Their Failures — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

If a pilot flies from a high-pressure area into a low-pressure area w… · PPL Free Ground School