radar altimeter
Ground distance measurer
A radar altimeter is an instrument that measures altitude by timing radio waves bounced off the ground below.
Unlike barometric altimeters, which calculate height from air pressure, radar altimeters give precise readings of actual distance to the surface.
They're essential for aircraft during landing approaches and for spacecraft during descent: The radar altimeter showed fifty feet to touchdown.
- panelDistinct flat section
- flight deckPilot's control area
- elevationHeight above reference point
- sea levelElevation reference point
- Doppler effectWave compression from motion
echo · pulse · transmitter · proximity · time delay · frequency modulation · receiver · terrain · low altitude · antenna · commercial aviation · dial · needle · polar expeditions · height · military aviation · air traffic control · landing