How do you define "contractor altitude"?

[Old Greg]

It's all about the altitude. Poll to follow

[GJABS]

In aviation there are three definitions that are relevant:
"Altitude" is height above sea level, in feet. Displayed by your altimeter after entering the QNH.
This is in contrast with "Height", which is my height above a particular point, usually an airfield. Enter the QFE.
Finally above the "Transition Altitude" (usually around 6000 feet) "Flight level" is the height assuming a standard pressure setting of 1013.

[Old Greg]

In aviation there are three definitions that are relevant:
"Altitude" is height above sea level, in feet. Displayed by your altimeter after entering the QNH.
This is in contrast with "Height", which is my height above a particular point, usually an airfield. Enter the QFE.
Finally above the "Transition Altitude" (usually around 6000 feet) "Flight level" is the height assuming a standard pressure setting of 1013.

So if you are flying at a height of 100m above the Dead Sea, you are a contractor with a negative altitude?

[vwdan]

So if you are flying at a height of 100m above the Dead Sea, you are a contractor with a negative altitude?

Or landing somewhere like Schiphol which is slightly below sea level.

[greenlake]

a contractor with a negative altitude?

[GJABS]

So if you are flying at a height of 100m above the Dead Sea, you are a contractor with a negative altitude?

You got it.

In fact there is an eccentric pilot by the name of Maurice Kirk who got away with flying his aircraft inside the Cardiff Airport CTR control zone (controlled airspace) without permission, by flying below the cliffs next to the airport. His defence was that he was flying with a negative height relative to the height of the aerodrome, and the bounds of the controlled airspace were defined as being "above".

[vwdan]

You got it.

In fact there is an eccentric pilot by the name of Maurice Kirk who got away with flying his aircraft inside the Cardiff Airport CTR control zone (controlled airspace) without permission, by flying below the cliffs next to the airport. His defence was that he was flying with a negative height relative to the height of the aerodrome, and the bounds of the controlled airspace were defined as being "above".

I'd love to meet Maurice one day, but christ, eccentric is putting it mildly.

[MarillionFan]

A combination of Ace Rimmer and Lord Flashheart!