ALTIMETRY

Terminology

Altitude : Vertical distance above mean sea level

Height : Vertical distance of a level or point measured from a specific datum, e.g. above aerodrome
surface.

Elevation Vertical distance of a fixed object above mean sea level (e.g. aerodrome or obstacle)

The Altimeter : An altimeter is an instrument which measures pressure and causes a needle to move
across a dial. The instrument is calibrated in accordance with the ICAO International Standard
Atmosphere so that all altimeters will read the same altitude for the same pressure.

The relationship between height and Pressure is used in an altimeter.

Range of Subscale (850 – 1050HPa).
Pressure Settings
The pressure reading from the barometer is reduced to a common level , called MSL. Such
practice is called pressure setting.

QFE : The actual atmospheric pressure measured at the aerodrome reference point.(ARP= Highest
point on Landing Area

With QFE set on the altimeter the altimeter will read :

On Aerodrome : zero feet

Airborne : the height of the aircraft from the ARP.

QFF

It is the pressure at the airfield converted to MSL using the actual conditions.

This is used for plotting on Synoptic charts and drawing isobars.

Q2 : On a surface weather chart, isobars are lines of: a. QNH b. QFE c. QFF d. QNE

Q13 . An isobar on a meteorological chart joins all places having the same: a. QFE b. QFF c. QNH d.
standard pressure

QNH
It is the pressure at the airfield (QFE), converted (reduced/ corrected) to MSL using the ISA
Conditions (Temp and Pressure)

QNH is always a whole number without any decimal places and is always rounded down.

When on the aerodrome with QNH set the altimeter will read aerodrome elevation. The Altimeter
will show the vertical distance from MSL. It is also called absolute altitude

This is used for maintaining vertical separation between aircraft and from terrain.

Correct use of Reginal QNH ensures adequate terrain clearance.

QNE : It is the altitude indicated on altimeter on landing when the sub scale is set to 1013.25 hpa.

This altitude is known as QNE

Normally QNE is used for high altitude airfields.

SPS : If the standard pressure of 1013 hPa is set on the altimeter, the instrument will read what is
known as pressure altitude height in the Standard Atmosphere. This is the altimeter setting used
when flying above the transition altitude.

Q7. The pressure of 1013 hPa is known as: a. standard pressure setting b. QNH c. QFE d. QFF

Transition Altitude : The Highest altitude at or below which the vertical position of an aircraft is
controlled by reference to altitude (QNH).The airacft fly on QNH at or below TA.

QNH tp SPS(QNE)

Transition Level : The lowest flight level above which the aircraft will always fly on standard setting
of 1013.25hpa.

Transition Layer : The airspace between the transition altitude and the transition level.

Flight Level : Theses are Level of constant atmospheric pressure at or above TL measured from the
1013 hPa(MSL) datum and is used for vertical separation by specified pressure intervals (usually 500
or 1000 ft).

Flight Level is measured in hundreds of feet. e.g. FL350 = 35000 ft. FL 50= 5000ft.

Pressure Altitude : When the altimeter subscale is set to 1013.25, the altimeter indicate Pressure
altitude.. Using 1013.25 setting avoids the need to update QNH.

Pressure attitude are expressed as eg 4500, 22000, 45000etc. whereas the altitude is expressed as

FL45, FL220, FL450.( avoiding the last two zero).

Standard Isobaric Levels

Relation between QNH, QFE, and QNE

1. If QNE is greater than QNH, ie the sealevel is lower than

QNH is lower than 1013.

QNH is 1000hpa. QFE is 950hpa

Station Elevation : (QNH- QFE) *30ft

=1000-950*30

=50*3

=1500ft

If the Altimeter is set to 1013, the altimeter would indicate the Station Level = (1013-QFE ) *30ft

=1013-950 *30

=63*30

1890ft

2. QNH is greater than 1013

QNH 1020 , QFE 970

The altimeter would indicate the station elevation = QNH-QFE*30

=1020-970 *30

=50*30

=1500ft

If the Altimeter is set to 1013, the altimeter would indicate the Station Level = 1013-QFE *30

= 1013-970*300

=43*30

1290ft
As a general Rule :

When the subscale is set to a value less than QNH , the altimeter indicate lower than actual height
above sea level.

When the subscale is set to a value greater than QNH , the altimeter indicate higher than actual
height above sea level.

UNDER READING OVER READING

TRUE ALTITUDE:- . It is the actual physical altitude of the Aircraft above the Sea Level.

Indicated Altitude : Altitude indicated on the altimeter.

If during a flight the pressure falls then altimeter overreads and under reads if pressure rises.

Low pressure – Altimeter – Over reads

High Pressure – Altimter Under reads

General Rule - HLHL

High to Low – Over reads Low to High – Under Reads

Warm to Cold – Over reads Cold to Warm – Under Reads

In ISA 1.5km Altitude corresponds to pressure of 864hpa and 2km to 795hpa

When an aircraft flies into column of warm air from 864hpa level the pressure being lower
over the warmer column will have the same pressure at higher level, say 2km (where ISA
pressure is 795hpa. Hence the altimeter will indicate an altitude lower than true altitude.

If the atmosphere is hotter than ISA, then the aneroid altimeter set to QNH will read less than the
true altitude, whereas if the atmosphere is colder than ISA, the aneroid altimeter set to QNH will
read higher than the True Altitude.
In case of winds , general rule applies ( In Northern Hemisphere)
For Port Drift the wind is from right
In the N Hemisphere the Low is in the left of the wind and high on the right.
Aircraft is thus moving from Low to high
Hence the altimeter would Under Read.

In the Northern Hemisphere

When flying with winds from the port the altimeter will over read.
When flying with winds from the Starboard, the altimeter will underread.
Opposite happens in Southern Hemisphere.
Relation Between QFF and QNH
Stations AT MSL Regardless of temperature QNH = QFF (=QFE)