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International Standard Atmosphere & Altitude 
For CPL & ATPL 

 
 
Should’s * -  
Nil 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

* You should have completed these short courses to understand this module 
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ISA 
Also known as the ICAO Standard Atmosphere, ISA is a standard against which to compare 
the actual atmosphere at any point and time. 
The ISA is based the following values of pressure, density, and temperature at mean sea 
level each of which decreases with increase in height: 

● Pressure of 1013.2 millibar - Pressure is taken to fall at about 1 millibar per 30 feet 
in the lower atmosphere (up to about 5,000 feet). 

● Temperature of +15 °C - Temperature falls at a rate of 2 °C per 1,000 feet until the 
tropopause is reached at 36,000 feet above which the temperature is assumed to be 
constant at -57 °C. (The precise numbers are 1.98 °C, -56.5 °C and 36,090 feet) 

● Density of 1,225 gm/m3. 

The real atmosphere differs from ISA in many ways. Sea level pressure varies from day to 
day, and there are wide extremes of temperature at all levels. 
  
 
Why ?
International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) is a model used for the standardization of 
aircraft instruments and Performance documentation.​ It was established, with tables 
of values over a range of altitudes, to provide a common reference for temperature and 
pressure. Flying in ISA-plus temperatures will have a negative impact on aircraft 
performance. If ISA-plus temperatures are excessive, aircraft may not climb at the 
anticipated rate and/or may be unable to maintain altitude. 
ISA is a hypothetical model ​– representative of an ideal atmosphere based on the 
thermodynamic equation, as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization, 
devoid of water vapor, wind, and turbulence. It uses a standard reference for pressure, 
density, viscosity, and temperature at different altitudes throughout the atmosphere. It 
consists of a table of values and indicates how these values change over a range of 
altitudes. 

How is Altitude measured ? 

Altitude is measured by measuring the static pressure outside by an instrument called 
Altimeter. It has a window to set the desired pressure setting which is usually set in Hecta 
Pascal or mb. 
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Pressure Altitude 
Pressure Altitude is the Altimeter Reading on STD setting (1013.25 mb).  

Flight Level  
Flight Level is Pressure Altitude Expressed in hundreds of feet . Therefore FL50 means 
pressure altitude of 5000 ft and Altimeter is Set to 1013.25 mb. 
  
This is all that is required for Now in this module. In the Next Section we will see the 
different types of altitudes, associated problems & solutions.  
 
 
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