AGL and its meaning pair

• A. AGL — Above Ground Level
• B. AGL — Air Ground Level
• C. AGL — Altitude Ground Level
• D. AGL — Average Ground Level

Answer: (A)

AGL stands for Above Ground Level. This describes altitude relative to the terrain directly beneath the aircraft, which can vary with hills, buildings, and other obstacles. It’s used when you need to know how high you are above the surface right below you, not above sea level. This is different from altitude in feet MSL (mean sea level), which ignores terrain and uses a fixed reference. The other phrases aren’t standard aviation terms, so they wouldn’t convey the same meaning. Knowing AGL helps you judge clearance over obstacles and follow procedures that specify height above the ground.