Abstract A simple, convenient procedure is outlined for evaluating topographic and terrain effects in airborne gravimetry. The method assumes that continuous terrain data (flight elevation and terrain clearance) are available along a traverse. The terrain is taken to be uniform to infinity in both directions perpendicular to the flight line. The correction is easily calculated from a simple product series. The error tolerances are not serious. Nonperpendicular, irregular topography cannot be evaluated by this simple procedure, but order of magnitude considerations demonstrate that this problem ordinarily is not prohibitively important. In flight, real-time correction for topographic and terrain effects is not a major obstacle in the development of airborne gravity exploration.