Definition
Indicated altitude that has been adjusted to compensate for the difference between the actual outside air temperature and the standard atmospheric temperature at that altitude. The correction accounts for the fact that cold air is denser than warm air, causing the altimeter to read higher than the aircraft's true altitude in cold conditions and lower in hot conditions.
Plain English
The altitude shown on your altimeter, adjusted for how cold or warm the air actually is. Because altimeters assume a standard temperature, real-world temperatures throw the reading off — corrected altitude fixes that.
Context Anchor
Seen in altimeter accuracy discussions, aircraft performance data, and instrument or static-system error corrections.
Derivation
From Latin 'corrigere', meaning 'to make right' or 'set straight'. The altitude is 'corrected' because the raw indicated reading needs adjustment to reflect reality.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents flying too low during approaches when cold air makes the altimeter read higher than actual height.
Grounding Statement
Corrected altitude is not a new kind of height; it is an altimeter reading made more accurate by applying known corrections.
Intuition Check
Corrected does not mean perfectly true altitude in every condition. It means the indicated reading has been adjusted for specific known errors, mainly instrument and position error.
Example Sentence 1
On the cold winter approach into the mountain airport, the pilot calculated the corrected altitude and added the temperature correction to the published minimums.
Example Sentence 2
After calculating the corrected altitude, the crew realized they needed to fly higher than the raw altimeter reading showed.