Altimeter Question

"JGalban via AviationKB.com" u32749@uwe wrote in
news:82df7b9654bd5@uwe:

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
What happens is that the transition level is localised. they're
usually between 3,000 and 5,000 above the local terrain, though that
depends on airspace divisions around the area and local state views
and traditions. Usually you can expect to transition around 4-5 thou
above the airport going up. In mountainous areas, minimu flight levels
are dictated by the QNH and temperature. The US is the only country I
know of that has a nationwide transition as high as 180.


Understood about the flight levels, but how does one set QFE on an
altimeter on a high altitude airport? Most altimeters I've seen don't
have a sufficient range in the Kollsman window to set anything above
3,000 ft. or so.



Ah, right. I see what you mean now. I have a friend who operates for a
company that uses QFE and he says you nearly need a crank handle on it
for some high alt airfields! I don't know if he has a different sort of
altimeter in the 767 he flies, but I ran out of nubers at 1050 when I
was in helsinki a while back and it was at 1052. Maybe it's a special
order. he was talking about a plce that was about 6,000 feet up.
I used to work for a place that used QFE for approach and landing and I
found it a major PITA.
We never went anywhere over 2,000 feet, though.


Bertie