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Aviation glossary

Absolute Altitude

What is absolute altitude?

Illustration related to absolute altitude
Image: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, FAA — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Absolute altitude is the vertical distance of an aircraft above the terrain directly below it—in other words, its height above ground level (AGL). Unlike altitude measured from sea level, this value changes as the ground beneath you rises and falls. Think of it as "how far down would I fall to hit the ground right now?"

Also known as: AGL, above ground level, height above ground

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