Everything Explained: Altimetry Around the World

Q codes are basic three-letter tele­communications codes designated in the early 1930s, back when Morse code was still the most popular form of long-distance information exchange, to facilitate the transmission and reception of common questions and answers.

QNH — The barometric pressure as reported by a particular station (local altimeter setting). QNH is the altimeter setting that most general aviation pilots are familiar with when operating in the United States and Canada below 18,000 feet msl. This setting causes the altimeter to read field elevation (above sea level) when the aircraft is on the ground. Most overseas airports give altimeter settings in hectopascals (hPa), aka millibars (mb). Therefore, it is imperative that pilots are able to convert inches of mercury to hectopascals and hectopascals to inches of mercury. One mb equals 1 hPa, so there is essentially no difference in the two terms as far as the pilot is concerned. The United Kingdom uses an additional term called "regional QNH," which is the lowest forecast QNH in an altimeter setting region.

QNE, aka pressure altitude, aka ISA standard pressure — The uncorrected (for temperature) altitude indicated by an altimeter when it is set to 29.92 inches of mercury (inHg), or 1013.2 mb/hPa. It is the standard altimeter setting used in controlled airspace at or above transition altitude (18,000 feet msl in the United States and Canada). Controllers in the U.K. refer to QNE as the standard pressure setting (SPS). Pressure altitude also is used to compute density altitude, true altitude, true airspeed and other performance data.

Transition altitude (or transition height, when using QFE) is the altitude/height above which standard pressure (QNE) is set (29.92 inHg or 1013.2 mb/hPa). The United States and Canada use 18,000 feet msl as the transition altitude to switch from the local altimeter setting (QNH) to pressure altitude (QNE) when climbing through 18,000 feet. "Transition altitude" normally refers to climb situations. Here's a memory aid: The A in "altitude" points up.

Transition level is the flight level below which QNH (local altimeter) or QFE is set. "Transition level" normally refers to a situation in which you are descending. The useful memory aid for this one is that the V in "level" points down.

In North America, transition altitude and transition level are the same: 18,000 feet, aka FL 180.

Transition altitudes/levels vary from country to country and can vary from airport to airport within a country. They can be found in the Altimeter Setting Data Box on en route charts, STARs, approach charts, departure procedures, and/or broadcast on ATIS or assigned by ATC. Transition altitudes/levels may be designated anywhere from 2,000 feet msl to 20,000 feet msl depending on the country or the individual airport. These altitudes can also be different when climbing away from or descending down to the same airport.

Transition layer is the airspace between the transition altitude and the transition level. Aircraft descending through the transition layer will set altimeters to local station pressure, while departing aircraft climbing through the layer will be using the standard altimeter setting (QNE).

QFE — The altimeter setting referenced to airport field elevation where field elevation equals zero feet. QFE is the actual surface pressure at the airport. The altimeter will read zero feet when the aircraft is on the ground. When QFE is used, a barometric pressure equivalent must be listed on the approach chart to establish a height reference for landing (height above QFE level).