Definition
The official elevation, in feet above mean sea level, of the airport or weather observation station that is providing the altimeter setting being used. It is the reference height from which height-above-station calculations, including cold temperature altitude corrections, are made.
Plain English
How high above sea level the airport (or weather station) sits. It is the ground-level number for the place giving you your altimeter setting.
Context Anchor
Seen when using the ICAO cold temperature error table in instrument flying, especially when correcting approach altitudes in very cold weather.
Derivation
"Reporting station" is the place that reports the weather and altimeter setting. "Elevation" comes from the Latin elevare, meaning to lift up — here, how far the ground at that station is lifted above sea level.
Why Pilots Care
Determines the exact altitude correction needed in cold temperatures to prevent flying lower than indicated altitude.
Grounding Statement
On a very cold approach, the reporting station elevation is the ground reference you measure upward from before choosing the cold temperature correction.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as the altitude your aircraft is reporting. It is the fixed elevation of the ground reporting station used as the reference for the calculation.
Example Sentence 1
To use the cold temperature error table, subtract the reporting station elevation from your indicated altitude to find your height above the station.
Example Sentence 2
Because the reporting station elevation was higher than the airport, a smaller altitude correction was required.