Cold Air Temperature Altimeter Error

Hello everyone,

Quick question, is cold temperature error simulated in Infinite Flight. I doubt it is as it is quite a complicated thing to try and simulate I would assume, but wanted to ask if it was.

For those who don't know...

Cold temperature error is basically where the altimeter can over-read in colder conditions. So, it will show you are higher than you actually are, which can be bad. This happens because your altimeter is judging your altitude above sea level based on the air pressure. As cold air is denser than hot air, and therefore has a higher pressure, you’re altimeter thinks you are higher. Very hard to explain without making this long for a short question.
For example, if a chart said you had to be at or above 3,000ft. You’re altimeter might be showing you at 3100ft, but you’re actually lower, maybe 2,500ft. This can have obvious problems when… yunno, there’s like a mountain there…

‘Cold temperature error correction’ is a procedure that is used to make sure that aircraft is safe, by changing many of the altitudes on the chart to be more like what your altimeter would be reading. A chart, which you can find online some place else, is used to work out what altitude should be used instead of charted alts.

If the cold temp error correction procedures is applied and the error does not exist in the first place, you’ll be way to high on approach. This is why I’m asking.

Thank you!

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As far as I know, altimeter error and realistic altimeter setting procedures are not replicated or able to be replicated in IF as of now.

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I didn’t think they were, thanks!

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But colder air definitely slows you down while at cruise altitude!

Is that a thing in IF?

Well, of course, GS varies with temperature at cruise altitude, just as it does with pressure altitude when taking off or landing.

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Temperature affects what indicated airspeed will correspond to a specific Mach number at cruise altitudes, which is why you can see different ground speeds and transition to a different indicated airspeed from Mach number at FL280 during the descent than you saw during the climb.

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