PROBLEMS IN WORLD-WIDE STANDARDIZATION OF THE UNITS OF ALTITUDE MEASUREMENT

The U.S. commitment to a voluntary conversion to metric units raises changeover problems in the fields of air traffic control and airspace management. This report begins by discussing current practice in altitude measurement and the rules for height maintenance now in effect worldwide. Four desirable features are given for an altitude measurement system, encompassing both the units of height measurement and the designation of cruising levels. Three alternative bases for the design of such a system are discussed and related to the desirable characteristics. Problems associated with each of the approaches are discussed and the many factors to be considered and the many interrelationships involved are examined.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, D.C.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Applied Mathematics Division
  Washington, DC  United States  20234

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Systems Engineering Management, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • GILSINN, J F
• Publication Date: 1978-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Aircraft; Airspace (Aeronautics); Airspace (Law); Altimeters; Altitude; Cruising flight; Metric system; Standardization; Systems of measurement
• Old TRIS Terms: Directional measurement; Metrication
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00175540
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NBSIR-77-1386 Tech Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 14 1978 12:00AM