Flying High to Low: What Your Altimeter Really Reads
Try it first
You are flying from high pressure to low pressure without updating your altimeter setting. Your indicated altitude will:
The verified answer
Read higher than your actual altitude
"From HIGH to LOW, LOOK OUT BELOW!" In low pressure, the atmosphere is thinner, so the pressure at your actual altitude corresponds to a higher standard altitude. Your altimeter over-reads — you appear higher than you are. This is a terrain clearance hazard.
Verified against FAA-H-8083-28B Chapter 8 on 2026-07-22 — not against another quiz site. Regulations and handbooks change; that's why every answer here carries its source.
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