When should a pilot apply corrections to altitudes during a flight?

Applying corrections to altitudes during a flight is crucial for maintaining accurate altitude readings especially in relation to sea level and ensuring safety when navigating through various airspaces. The correct answer emphasizes the importance of adjusting the altimeter setting, which is necessary to reflect accurate altitude.

Altitude is typically measured in relation to sea level, but because atmospheric pressure can change due to weather conditions, it's essential for pilots to adjust their altimeters to the current pressure setting, usually given in inches of mercury (inHg) or millibars. This adjustment helps to ensure that the indicated altitude corresponds accurately to the actual altitude above sea level.

When a pilot updates the altimeter setting upon receiving updated information from air traffic control or at designated waypoints, it allows for precise altitude management, particularly important when flying through transition altitudes, during approaches, and at cruising levels.

Adjusting based on other factors, such as changing speeds or wind conditions, does not directly pertain to correcting altitude figures indicated by the altimeter and hence is not a primary action for altitude correction.