as air density decreases (higher density altitude), aircraft performance decreases. A decrease in air density means a high density altitude; an increase in air density means a lower density altitude. Density altitude is used in calculating aircraft performance.

How does density affect flight?

Lift and drag depend linearly on the density of the fluid. Halving the density halves the lift, halving the density halves the drag. … In the atmosphere, air density decreases as altitude increases. This explains why airplanes have a flight ceiling, an altitude above which it cannot fly.

How does density altitude affect takeoff performance?

An increase in density altitude adversely affects your aircraft’s performance by increasing takeoff distance, reducing rate of climb, increasing true air speed on approach, landing and increasing landing roll distance. In addition, high density altitude decreases the engine’s horsepower output.