FAA Instrument Flight Instructor (FII)IFR Procedures and ApproachesMedium
A pilot is planning a nonprecision approach at an airport listed on the FAA Cold Temperature Restricted Airports list. The surface temperature is -30°C, at or below the airport's published minimum temperature. The published FAF crossing altitude is 2,500 feet MSL, and the applicable cold-temperature correction for that height above the airport is +260 feet. What corrected minimum altitude should the pilot use at the FAF?
- A3,000 feet MSL
- B2,500 feet MSL
- C2,240 feet MSL
- D2,760 feet MSL
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 2,760 feet MSL
In extreme cold, a barometric altimeter reads higher than true altitude, so a correction must be added to the charted altitude to ensure adequate obstacle clearance. 2,500 ft + 260 ft correction = 2,760 feet MSL.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This overstates the correction beyond the given value.
- B. This ignores the required correction entirely.
- C. This subtracts the correction instead of adding it, the wrong direction for cold-temperature error.
Cold Temperature Altitude Correction
At or below an airport's published minimum temperature, a barometric altimeter over-reads true altitude, requiring pilots to add a correction to published minimum altitudes to maintain obstacle clearance.
- Cold temperature restricted airports are listed with a minimum temperature threshold
- Correction values increase with height above the airport and colder temperatures
- Correction is added to the charted altitude, not subtracted
Memory trick: 'Cold air, Add the Fare' — add the correction in the cold.