Definition
The published height, in feet above mean sea level (MSL), of the highest point on any of an airport's usable runways. It appears on instrument approach charts as a reference for pilots planning the approach and landing.
Plain English
It is how high the airport sits above sea level, measured to the highest point of its runways.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach procedure charts, usually in the airport information area or near the airport sketch.
Derivation
“Apt” is a shortened chart form of “airport.” “Elevation” comes from a word meaning “to raise up,” which fits the aviation use: it tells how high a place is compared with sea level.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots need this value to set the altimeter correctly before departure and to calculate decision altitudes on approach.
Intuition Check
Do not read airport elevation as the height of the control tower, terminal, or average airport surface. In this chart use, it means the highest point of the usable landing area, measured above sea level.
Example Sentence 1
Before briefing the approach, she noted the airport elevation of 1,287 feet so she would know roughly what altitude to expect at touchdown.
Example Sentence 2
With the Apt Elev known, the crew could determine the correct minimum descent altitude for the approach.