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PA.VI.A.K5dFAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Knowledge

d. True airspeed and density altitude

ACS element text (the applicant demonstrates understanding of)

Plotting a course, including: d. True airspeed and density altitude

Bottom line

The products of time, airspeed, distance, and direction, adjusted by wind speed and velocity, are heading and groundspeed. If there is no wind, groundspeed is the same as the true airspeed.

Key numbers

Key numbers for d. True airspeed and density altitude
NumberWhat it means
At 18,000 feet, air has one-half the density of air at sea levelAir density
152 knots average true airspeed at 10,000 feet (example aircraft data)Example TAS

FAA references

  1. PHAK ch. 16 (p. 16-13) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  2. PHAK ch. 5 (p. 5-5) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
  3. RMH ch. 3 (pp. 3-13–3-14) — FAA-H-8083-2A
  4. AFH ch. 13 (p. 13-29) — FAA-H-8083-3C
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