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Without doing the math, how do you know your true altitude AGL when your altimeter is set to MSL

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    $\begingroup$ The math isn't that difficult: subtract the field elevation $\endgroup$
    – Sean Huber
    Mar 27, 2018 at 21:19
  • $\begingroup$ Are you asking about an aircraft in flight or sitting on the ground? See this question too. $\endgroup$
    – Pondlife
    Mar 28, 2018 at 1:17

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I usually don't care a lot about my AGL altitude.

When I'm doing my flight planning on the ground, I do take into account terrain and obstacles, and pick appropriate MSL altitudes to be well clear of anything on the ground.

But by the time I get in my plane, I'm thinking in terms of MSL (altimeter) and no longer about AGL.

That even applies to approaching my destination field. If I know the field is at 1,500 ft. and I want to do a traffic pattern at 1,000ft. AGL, then I plan for my altimeter to read 2,500 (MSL). And I think about if I'm at the proper MSL altitude (2,500), not what my AGL altitude is.

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