Chapter 4 - Altimeter-Setting Procedures

Question 1

What is the name of the knob which allows a pilot to select the local pressure setting on their altimeter?

Answer 1

The subscale-setting knob

Question 2

What is QNH? How else may it be referenced?

Answer 2

The mean sea level pressure, causing an altimeter to indicate altitude
As altitude

Question 3

Why is it extremely important to be able to accurately refer to correct QNH?

Answer 3

QNH varies from time to time and from place to place

The ground and obstacles are usually shown on maps as heights AMSL

Question 4

What is QFE? How else may it be referenced?

Answer 4

The pressure level at the aerodrome elevation

Height

Question 5

What is the most common altimeter setting for circuit/aerodrome work?

Answer 5

QFE

Question 6

What is the name for the altimeter sub scale being set to 1013.2 hectopascals?

Answer 6

Pressure Altitude (PA)

Question 7

How is pressure altitude easily discerned from altitude?

Answer 7

It is called Flight Level

Question 8

How many regional pressure settings are there in the UK? How else is this known?

Answer 8

20

Regional QNH

Question 9

Define ‘transition altitude’

Answer 9

The altitude below which the vertical position of the aircraft is controlled by reference to altitude

Question 10

In what conditions is standard pressure (1013) used by aircraft?

Answer 10

For all aircraft in controlled airspace and all aircraft in uncontrolled airspace above 3,000 feet

Question 11

What is ‘transition level’?

Answer 11

The lowest flight level available for cruising above the transition altitude

Question 12

What is the area between the transition altitude and the transition level?

Answer 12

The transition layer

Question 13

How should altitudes be written in a flight plan?

Answer 13

As altitudes for that part of the flight below the transition altitude and flight levels for that part which is above the transition level

Question 14

What are the three main considerations for choosing an appropriate cruising level in flight?

Answer 14

• Terrain clearance
• ATS requirements
• Compliance with the semicircular rule

Question 15

What can happen en-route if regional pressure decreases but the pressure setting is not updated? What else can affect altitude in this way and why?

Answer 15

The aircraft can lose height/altitude
Temperature. Colder temperatures are found in denser air. The altimeter will read higher than it is and consequently the aircraft will need to descend to maintain the same apparent altitude

Question 16

What must always be considered when selecting a flight level for cruise?

Answer 16

The regional pressure setting below this and the resulting separation from traffic at the transition altitude

Question 17

What should a pilot do (with regard to altitude) when flying beneath a CTR or a TMA below the transition altitude? Why?

Answer 17

Use the QNH for an aerodrome within the area

This will prevent inadvertent penetration of the controlled airspace

Question 18

What will a pilot usually be given when penetrating a MATZ?

Answer 18

QFE

Question 19

What is a ‘clutch QFE’?

Answer 19

The lowest QFE available when there is more than one aerodrome in a combined MATZ

Question 20

In level flight above 3,000 feet amsl, pilots flying IFR must 1013 set, and conform to…

Answer 20

The semicircular rule when selecting cruising levels

Question 21

VFR flights above the transition altitude may use…for navigation, however when choosing to use the…, they must use…on the sub scale

Answer 21

QNH
Semi-circular rule
1013

Question 22

What is the simple rule for calculating cruising levels for your flight?

Answer 22

IFR= 1,000s
VFR= 500s
Left (West) is even levels
Right (East) is odd levels

Question 23

On radar approach, which altimeter setting is used by ATC?

Answer 23

QNH

Question 24

On missed approach, which setting should be used (unless otherwise instructed)?

Answer 24

QNH