Lesson 2: Calculating Pressures

This lesson’s objective is to use the knowledge from the previous

lesson to calculating basic pressure change calculations.

Altitude Difference = Pressure Difference x 30

Pressure Difference = Altitude Difference / 30

At Airports Above Sea level

QNH = QFE + Altitude Difference
QFE = QNH - Altitude Difference

At Airport Below Sea level

QNH = QFE - Altitude Difference
QFE = QNH + Altitude Difference

Example Altitude Difference Calculation

QNH = 1020, QFE = 1010
Pressure Difference = 1020 - 1010
Pressure Difference = 10hPa
Altitude Difference = Pressure Difference x 30
Altitude Difference = 10 x 30
Altitude Difference = 300ft

Example Pressure Difference Calculation

Sea Level = 0ft Airport = 3300ft
Altitude Difference = 3300 - 0
Altitude Difference = 3000ft
Pressure Difference = Altitude Difference / 30
Pressure Difference = 3300 / 30
Pressure Difference = 110hPa

1
Practice Questions

1.QFE at Glasgow Airport is 1001hPa, but 998hPa at Scone Airport.

What is the elevation difference between the two?
a) 500ft
b) 120ft
c) 180ft
d) 90ft

2.QFE at Airport A is 1000hPa, and 1021hPa at Airport B. What is the

elevation difference between the two?
a) 100ft
b) 630ft
c) 960ft
d) 130ft

3.QFE at Airport A is 1009hPa, and 995hPa at Airport B. What is the

elevation difference between the two?
a) 750ft
b) 420ft
c) 1100ft
d) 990ft

4.QFE at Airport A is 1025hPa, and 999hPa at Airport B. What is the

elevation difference between the two?
a) 780ft
b) 870ft
c) 1200ft
d) 600ft

Answers: d, b, b, a
5.St Cyr is 420ft above sea level, where the QFE is 1002hPa. What is the
QNH?
a) 999hPa
b) 985hPa
c) 1009hPa
d) 1016hPa

6.Samedan Airport is 5600ft above sea level, where the QFE is 815hPa.
What is the QNH?
a) 996hPa
b) 628hPa
c) 1002hPa
d) 1005hPa

7.Annecy Airport is 1520ft above sea level, where the QFE is 989hPa.
What is the QNH?
a) 1003hPa
b) 1040hPa
c) 1007hPa
d) 999hPa

8.Frankfurt Airport is 360ft above sea level, where the QFE is 994hPa.
What is the QNH?
a) 1006hPa
b) 1009hPa
c) 988hPa
d) 985hPa

Answers: d, c, b, a
9.St Cyr is 420ft above sea level, where the QNH is 1005hPa. What is
the QFE?
a) 991hPa
b) 985hPa
c) 1009hPa
d) 1016hPa

10.Samedan Airport is 5600ft above sea level, where the QNH is

1023hPa. What is the QFE?
a) 996hPa
b) 836hPa
c) 1002hPa
d) 1005hPa

11.Annecy Airport is 1520ft above sea level, where the QNH is 1011hPa.
What is the QFE?
a) 1003hPa
b) 1040hPa
c) 960hPa
d) 999hPa

12.Frankfurt Airport is 360ft above sea level, where the QNH is

1019hPa. What is the QFE?
a) 1006hPa
b) 1009hPa
c) 988hPa
d) 1007hPa

Answers: b, b, c, d