What is "Density Altitude"?

Density altitude is a term used in aviation that describes the altitude in the atmosphere at which the air density is equivalent to the density at a certain altitude at standard temperature and pressure. It is used as a reference point to indicate the air density that an aircraft is flying in, and it can be used to predict how an aircraft will perform. Density altitude is affected by factors such as temperature, pressure, and humidity, and it can change rapidly with changes in these factors.

In simple terms, density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. When air is warmer, it is less dense and aircraft perform as if they were at a higher altitude than they actually are.