Altimetry

The Altimeter
• An altimeter is an instrument which
measures pressure and causes a
needle to move across a dial.
• The dial is calibrated in feet rather
than pressure as we know that
pressure decreases as altitude
increases.
• 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.
section A, the pressure at the
airfield, which is at sea level, is 1010
hPa. The altimeter reads zero feet.

section B, the pressure at the airfield has

fallen to 1000 hPa and the altimeter,
rather than showing a decrease in
pressure, shows an increase in height.
 • When flying at a constant indicated altitude, outside air pressure must
remain the same.
• To achieve this we must fly along a pressure level. However, when we fly
to an area of lower pressure, these pressure lines will dip, consequently
our true altitude will decrease.
• Conversely when flying into a region of higher pressure, the pressure
lines will rise and our true altitude will increase.

HIGHER PRESSURE; TRUE ALTITUDE > INDICATED ALTITUDE

LOWER PRESSURE; TRUE ALTITUDE < INDICATED ALTITUDE
 • Varying temperatures within the atmosphere have significant effects
on the pressure and the shape of the pressure lines.
• Cold air will tend to compact and lower pressure lines whilst warm air
will expand and raise pressure lines. you can see that when flying to a
colder area at a constant indicated altitude your true altitude
decreases.
• Conversely, when flying into warmer region your true altitude will
increase.

COLDER THAN ISA; TRUE ALTITUDE < INDICATED ALTITUDE

WARMER THAN ISA; TRUE ALTITUDE > INDICATED ALTITUDE
Need to reset the altimeter setting

• There is a need to be able to reset the

altimeter to take account of the fall in
pressure.
• Consequently, if the altimeter is reset
when the pressure changes, the
altimeter will read correctly.
• We may, by altering the altimeter
subscale setting, set QFE, QNH or SPS
for use when we fly to ensure more
accurate readings.
Altimeter Settings
 QFE - The pressure set on the subscale of the
altimeter so that the instrument indicates its height
QFE above the reference elevation being used.

• The pressure measured at the aerodrome datum.

• With QFE set on the altimeter, the altimeter will read zero when the
aircraft is on the surface of the aerodrome.
• When airborne, with QFE set, the altimeter reads the approximate
height above the aerodrome.
• QFE is always rounded down to the nearest hectopascal.
 QNH - The pressure set on the subscale of the
altimeter so that the instrument indicates its height
QNH above sea level. The altimeter will read runway
elevation when the aircraft is on the runway.

• With QNH set the altimeter will read aerodrome elevation when on
the surface of the aerodrome.
• When airborne it will read the approximate altitude of the aircraft.
• QNH is always rounded down to the nearest integer.

This is the barometric pressure at the airfield (QFE), converted to mean sea level
(MSL) using the ISA temperature at the airfield and the ISA pressure lapse rate.
QNE
• QNE is different to the other altimetry Q codes in that it is an altitude
not a pressure.
• 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).
QFF
• Temperature affects the change
of pressure over height, QNH is
not a true mean sea level
pressure (unless ISA conditions
exist).
• To know the true mean sea level
pressure QFE is converted to
MSL using the actual
temperature and assuming
isothermal conditions between
the aerodrome and MSL, this
pressure is known as QFF
International Standard Atmosphere
Also known as the ICAO Standard Atmosphere

• Pressure of 1013.25
• Temperature of +15 °C 
• Density of 1,225 gm/m3.
Forecast QNH
• The lowest forecast QNH within an
area, forecast for one hour ahead.
• The altimeter will be in error, but as
the setting is the lowest forecast,
the actual pressure will always be
higher, or at least equal to the
forecast QNH, and the altimeter will
read low (or safe) or the correct
altitude.
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.

• Flight Level - Surface of constant atmospheric pressure measured from the

1013 hPa datum used for vertical separation by specified pressure intervals
(usually 500 or 1000 ft). Flight Level is measured in hundreds of feet. e.g.
FL350 = 35 000 ft.
Altimeter Errors
Apart from instrument errors, there are two errors of interest meteorologically.
They are:
1. Barometric Error - Errors caused by setting a pressure on the
subscale other than the correct one.
2. Temperature error - The altimeter is calibrated in accordance with
the ICAO ISA. If the temperature is other than that in the ISA, the
altimeter will be in error.

The error is proportional to the difference between actual and ISA temperature, and the vertical distance of the aircraft
above the altimeter setting datum.

True altitude = indicated altitude + (indicated altitude/1000 × ISA deviation × 4) + 27(actual pressure - pressure setting)
True altitude = indicated altitude + (indicated altitude/1000 × ISA temperature deviation × 4) + 27 (ISA Pressure deviation )

• Temperature error = (indicated altitude/1000) × ISA deviation × 4

The height correction is 4 feet per degree Celsius deviation from ISA per 1000 feet.
ISA deviation = Actual temperature – Standard temperature

• Pressure Error = 27 (ISA Pressure deviation)

The height correction is 27 ft per Hp deviation from ISA

• ISA Pressure deviation = Actual pressure - pressure setting
 Minimum Safe Flight Level

• Minimum safe flight level is the minimum indicated (QNE) pressure altitude
(using SPS 1013 hPa) that will ensure the aircraft is not lower than the
safety attitude for each section of the route.

• When route planning we must ensure that on all sections of the route the
selected flight level is at or above the safety altitude for that section.

• This means that we have to take account of both expected minimum

pressure (QNH) and minimum temperature for each section of the route.
When carrying out an aerodrome or runway approach in temperatures
colder than standard the indicated decision height/altitude or minimum
descent height/altitude must be increased in accordance with the following
table to ensure safe operation.
 • With temperatures colder than standard consideration must be given
to the effect of temperature on terrain clearance.

1013 - Actual pressure × height change per hPa = error in feet

Example
• A flight is planned at FL180 over Mountain with elevation of 15,782 ft.
• Given
• The mean sea level pressure is 983 hPa, from an aerodrome at mean sea level,
• the temperature of the air up to the summit is 25°C colder than ISA.
• Determine the true altitude of the aircraft at Mountain and hence the terrain
clearance.
 1013 - Actual pressure × height change per hPa = error in feet

• The indicated altitude is 18 000 ft above the 1013 hPa datum;

• The height correction for the 30 hPa pressure difference is:
• 30 × 27 = 810 feet so the corrected altitude is 17 190 ft.

The height correction for the temperature deviation from ISA is : 4 × (- 25) × 18 = -1800 ft

Hence the true altitude of the aircraft is 15 390 ft

• The Mountain is 15,872 ft high so if we do not do something about it we
will fly into the mountain 392 feet below the summit.

• To simplify the calculation use the formula:

• true altitude = indicated altitude + (indicated altitude/1000 × ISA deviation

× 4) + 27(actual pressure - pressure setting)

So in winter, particularly if flying close to safety altitude, the effect of temperature on

true altitude must be taken into account for safety.
Home Work
• The regional pressure setting is 1012, the altimeter setting is 1022 and
the indicated altitude is 4100 ft.
• Ahead is some high ground shown on the map as being at 3700 ft.
• Will the aircraft clear the high ground, and if so, by how much?