HAA stands for height above what?

• A. Airport
• B. Landing
• C. Ground
• D. Terrain

Answer: (A)

Height above airport is the vertical distance measured from the airport’s reference datum, typically the airport’s field elevation. It tells you how high you are above the airfield itself, rather than above the actual ground under you or the surrounding terrain. This is useful when procedures or charts specify altitude relative to the airport, helping you assess obstacle clearance and perform transitions near the field.

For example, if the airport elevation is 1,000 feet and you are at 3,000 feet MSL, your height above the airport is 2,000 feet. This concept differs from height above ground or height above terrain, which use the local ground or terrain elevations rather than the airport’s reference point.