AGL
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Aviation
| Stands for | Above ground level |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
AGL stands for Above ground level, an aviation abbreviation.
Height measured from the terrain directly below an aircraft rather than from sea level. AGL is used for cloud ceilings, obstacle heights, drone altitude limits and minimum safe altitudes, while ATC altitudes are normally given in MSL.
Example: Recreational drones are limited to 400 feet AGL in uncontrolled airspace under FAA rules.
Usage notes
A radio altimeter on airliners reads height AGL directly, which drives the automated "fifty, forty, thirty" callouts during landing. Sectional charts show obstacles with both figures: MSL in bold and AGL in parentheses. Confusing the two references has contributed to accidents in mountainous terrain, where 1,000 feet AGL may be 9,000 feet MSL.
Related abbreviations
More aviation abbreviations
- A&P – Airframe and powerplant
- ACARS – Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System
- ACC – Area control centre
- ADF – Automatic direction finder
- ADIZ – Air defense identification zone
- ADS-B – Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast
- AIM – Aeronautical Information Manual
- AIRMET – Airmen's Meteorological Information
- AME – Aircraft maintenance engineer
- AOG – Aircraft on ground
- AP – Autopilot
- APU – Auxiliary power unit