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PPL · EASA 050 · The atmosphere
Deviation from ISA at a flight level
At FL080 the outside air temperature is −13 °C. What is the deviation from ISA?
Explanation
A flight level is an altitude in the standard atmosphere, so first work out the ISA temperature at that level. The deviation is the actual temperature minus the ISA temperature: a negative deviation means the air is colder than standard, a positive one that it is warmer. In the formulas, T_actual is the measured outside air temperature (OAT in the diagram), T_ISA the ISA temperature at that level and h its altitude in feet (FL × 100).
Step by step
- FL080 is 8 000 ft in the standard atmosphere.
- ISA temperature there: 15 − 2 × 8 = −1 °C.
- Deviation: −13 − (−1) = −12 °C, so ISA −12 °C.
Why not the other answers
- ISA +12 °C subtracts the wrong way round, ISA minus actual. The deviation is always actual minus ISA: air warmer than standard gives a positive number, colder air a negative one.
- ISA −4 °C works out the ISA temperature with 3 °C per 1 000 ft (−9 °C). The ISA falls by 2 °C per 1 000 ft; 3 °C is the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
- ISA −28 °C compares with +15 °C, the ISA temperature at sea level, not the one at FL080.
Tip. It matters for the altimeter: in air colder than ISA you are lower than the altimeter shows, in warmer air higher. From hot to cold, look out below.
Original questions written by FlightDesk Aero and aligned with the EASA syllabus. They are not questions from the official EASA exam bank.