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Altimeter Pressure Se!ings
QNH Article Information
QFE Category: General
QNE Content source: SKYbrary
Content control: SKYbrary
Contents
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1 Description
2 Effects of Temperature on Altimeter Readings
3 Definitions
4 Related Articles
5 Further Reading
Description
Aircraft pressure altimeters indicate the elevation of the aircraft above a defined datum. The datum
selected depends on the barometric pressure set on the altimeter sub-scale. Sound altimeter
setting procedures are an essential tool in ensuring safe separation from the ground and from other
aircraft.
The SI or metric unit of measurement for barometric pressure is the hectopascal (hPa) and this is
adopted in respect of altimeter pressure settings in ICAO Annex 5. Variations from the standard
shown in the Supplement to ICAO Annex 5 include:
Millibar (mb), (1mb = 1 hPa);
Inches of mercury (inHg) (in particular North America);
Millimetres of mercury (CIS and some other south-east European States).
Three references for barometric pressure are in common usage: QNH, QFE and Standard Pressure.
QNH - The pressure set on the subscale of the altimeter so that the instrument indicates its height
above sea level. The altimeter will read runway elevation when the aircra" is on the runway.
Airfield QNH is obtained by correcting a measured QFE to sea level using ISA regardless of the
temperature structure of the atmosphere. As your altimeter is calibrated using ISA, it will indicate
altitude correctly at the airfield reference point. At other altitudes, the indicated altitude is likely to
be in error, depending on the temperature of the atmosphere.
Figure 1. Altimeter pressure settings
QFE - The pressure set on the subscale of the altimeter so that the instrument indicates its height
above the reference elevation being used.
In the PANS-OPS Doc 8400, see Q-Codes, QFE is referred to as “Atmospheric pressure at aerodrome
elevation (or at runway threshold)”
QFE is the isobaric surface pressure at the reference point. At other altitudes the altimeter will give
an indication of the height above that reference point. With the aerodrome QFE set in the subscale,
your altimeter will read zero on the highest point on the runway and at other altitudes will read the
height above the airfield elevation. For precision approach runways or for instrument runways when
the threshold is 7 ft or more below aerodrome elevation, the QFE may be based on the threshold
elevation [ICAO Doc 4444, 4.10.1.2]. With the runway threshold QFE set in the subscale, your altimeter
will read zero on the runway threshold.
QNE is different to the other altimetry Q codes in that it is an altitude not a pressure (although it is
commonly incorrectly described as such). With Standard Pressure (1013.2 mb) set, an aircraft
altimeter indicates Pressure Altitude (Flight Level), and is used by all aircraft operating above the
transition altitude to provide a common datum for vertical measurement. The Standard Pressure is
equivalent to the air pressure at mean sea level (MSL) in the International Standard Atmosphere
(ISA) (ISA).
Effects of Temperature on Altimeter Readings
Pressure to height conversions in altimetry are based on ISA. Independent of temperature, the
conversion is 27 ft/hPa in the lower atmosphere (near ground), or 27 ft between each hPa of isobaric
surfaces. In non-ISA conditions, altimeter readout may be significantly different than the true
altitude of said altimeter. Since cold air is denser than warm air, isobaric surfaces are vertically more
constrained towards the ground. Whilst the altimeter measures 27 ft/hPa, true altitude will use a
lower ratio, and the altimeter overestimates altitude in colder-than-ISA air. In warm air, however, due
to the increased separation between isobaric surfaces greater than 27 ft/hPa, the altimeter will
underestimate the altitude.
It is for flight in colder-than-ISA that particular attention must be paid to true altitude. The altimeter
readout, being an underestimate of the actual altitude, may lead crews to think they are higher than
they actually are, and can lead to serious incidents if not accidents. Since all altimeters are based on
ISA, notwithstanding instrument error, altitude readouts between aircraft will be similar. Therefore
with the notable exceptions of flight in mountainous terrain or at low altitudes near the ground,
aircraft will fly consistent altitudes regardless of taking into account true altitude.
See also the article Altimeter Temperature Error Correction
Definitions
QNH. The altimeter sub-scale setting to obtain elevation when on the ground.
QFE. The atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation (or at runway threshold).
(ICAO, e.g. Doc 4444: PANS-ATM and Doc 8168: PANS-OPS)
Related Articles
Altimeter Setting Procedures
International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
Further Reading
ICAO:
Annex 5: Units of Measurement;
Annex 3: Meteorological services;
Doc 4444: PANS-ATM;
Doc 8168: PANS-OPS.
Flight Safety Foundation ALAR Toolkit
Briefing Note 3.1 Approach Hazards Overview
Category: General
This page was last edited on 26 February 2020, at 16:07.
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