Barometer Setting in Europe question...

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
wrote:

QNE means 1013.2 (i.e. 29.92).

This is actually a misconception, though a very commonly held one. When QNE
was used in RT, it represented the *elevation* that would be measured on an
altimeter set to 1013.2 at a reference station (usually an airport). Thus a
sea level airport with QNH 1010 hPa would report a QNE of approx 90 ft.

Q-codes generally represented questions and answers. "What is the standard
atmospheric pressure?" is a question with a predictable answer. ;-)

QNE no longer appears on the ICAO list of abbreviations and codes, so I
guess the distinction is of academic interest only.

Julian Scarfe

Julian Scarfe wrote:

This is actually a misconception, though a very commonly held one. When QNE
was used in RT, it represented the *elevation* that would be measured on an

I suspect you'll find even more inaccuracies in my post if you really go
for it. (The omission to point out the difference between transition
altitude and transition level jumps to my mind.) I tried to keep it simple.

A good list of the exact definitions of all Q-codes is he
http://www.kloth.net/radio/qcodes.php

Of allthose codes, the ones I think a pilot should (must) know are
QNE, QNH, QFE (in Europe, at least)
QFU (you'll find that on french approach plates, for example)
QDR, QDM, QTE (not good if you're lost and then confuse QDR and QDM)

Stefan

Stefan wrote:
QDR, QDM, QTE (not good if you're lost and then confuse QDR and QDM)

Not if you have enough fuel, you get there after a while ;-)
-Kees

wrote:
Stefan wrote:
QDR, QDM, QTE (not good if you're lost and then confuse QDR and QDM)
Not if you have enough fuel, you get there after a while ;-)

Not a problem, as long as you are Steve Fossett... :-)


Greetings,
Markus

wrote in message
k.net...
Here in the US, the barometer setting used is either the local setting
when below 18,000'
MSL or 29.92 when at or above 18,000' MSL. This is according to FAR 91.81.

My question is on understanding how this works in Europe (and other
airspaces
besides the US).

Canada has a 'Standard Pressure Region', and an 'Altimeter Setting Region'.

The 'Standard Pressure Region' is all airspace over Canada at or above 18000
feet, and all low level airspace that is outside of the lateral limit of the
'altimeter setting region'. (The 'low level airspace that is outside of
the lateral limit of the altimeter setting region' is essentially the arctic
and high arctic.)

While operating in the 'Standard Pressure Region', the altimeter is set to
standard pressure, which is 20.92 In.Hg, or 1013.2 mbs. (Except that for
departures and arrivals the airport altimeter setting is used, when
available, or, for departures with no altimeter setting available, the
elevation of the given airport)

While operating in the low-level airspace in the Altimeter Setting Region,
the altimeter is set to the altimeter setting (if known) of the given
airport for departures and arrivals, and otherwise the nearest station, and
otherwise the station nearest to the route of flight.

"Ron McKinnon" wrote in
news:Q9J2e.858461$8l.285987@pd7tw1no:

While operating in the 'Standard Pressure Region', the altimeter is
set to standard pressure, which is 20.92 In.Hg, or 1013.2 mbs.

20.92? Are you inside the eye of a hurricane or something?

"Jackal24" wrote in message
...
"Ron McKinnon" wrote in
news:Q9J2e.858461$8l.285987@pd7tw1no:

While operating in the 'Standard Pressure Region', the altimeter is
set to standard pressure, which is 20.92 In.Hg, or 1013.2 mbs.

20.92? Are you inside the eye of a hurricane or something?

Oops! Typo.

wrote in message
k.net...
Here in the US, the barometer setting used is either the local setting
when below 18,000'
MSL or 29.92 when at or above 18,000' MSL. This is according to FAR 91.81.

My question is on understanding how this works in Europe (and other
airspaces
besides the US). My current hazy knowledge is that the 18000 feet may be
different
either by country or some other boundary. Could someone familiar with this
crossover
in Europe or elsewhere advise me on how it works?

That's just about it. Different states set different thresholds (called the
"transition altitude") that are similar in effect to the 18,000 ft. At and
below that altitude a "local setting" is used and the vertical coordinate is
referred to as "altitude". Above that level 1013.25 hPa (= 29.92 inHg) is
used and the vertical coordinate is referred to as "flight level".

In some cases, different areas within states have different transition
altitudes for ATC purposes. For example in the UK, the general transition
altitude is 3000 ft, but within the horizontal extent of the London TMA it
becomes 6000 ft.

Julian Scarfe

In article , Julian Scarfe wrote:
In some cases, different areas within states have different transition
altitudes for ATC purposes. For example in the UK, the general transition
altitude is 3000 ft, but within the horizontal extent of the London TMA it
becomes 6000 ft.

And, if I remember correctly, for VFR in most instances you can fly
altitude rather than flight level (but when you talk to ATC it's
important to make the distinction). For example, going home the other
day, I was flying altitude 4000 over the Pennines, but didn't change to
flight levels once over the Irish Sea now I was over 3000' AGL - I just
told Ronaldsway I was 'altitude 4000' when I checked in with them.

--
Dylan Smith, Castletown, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net
"Maintain thine airspeed, lest the ground come up and smite thee"

"Dylan Smith" wrote in message
...

And, if I remember correctly, for VFR in most instances you can fly
altitude rather than flight level (but when you talk to ATC it's
important to make the distinction). For example, going home the other
day, I was flying altitude 4000 over the Pennines, but didn't change to
flight levels once over the Irish Sea now I was over 3000' AGL - I just
told Ronaldsway I was 'altitude 4000' when I checked in with them.

That's correct, for the UK at least. There's no requirement for VFR flights
to cruise at particular levels, so there's not much point in insisting that
VFR flights use a particular altimeter setting, outside controlled airspace.
However they are "encouraged" to set 1013 above the TA and use quadrantal
levels.

Julian Scarfe