Understanding Indicated vs True Altitude In aviation, altitude isn’t just one thing. There are two key types you need to know: 1. Indicated Altitude This is what you see on the altimeter in your cockpit. It’s calculated based on the pressure setting you’ve entered (QNH) and assumes standard atmospheric conditions. It’s called “indicated” because it’s exactly that, the value indicated by the instrument. 2. True Altitude This is your actual vertical distance above mean sea level (AMSL). It’s the r