Altimeter settings: QNH versus QFE

Bill Daniels wrote:

I like to see the altimeter hand move with small changes in altitude.
That's confirmation that all is well in the instrument panel. I've seen
haywire varios insistently reading up while the altimeter was winding down.
I'm not sure I would have spotted that as quickly with a metric altimeter.

I suppose there is no reason that a metric altimeter could not be more
sensitive. With today's digital technology, 100 meters per rev should be
possible. I've never seen one that sensitive.

Actually, even yesterday's digital technology already provides very
sensitive altimeters in our varios, GPS units, or flight computers.
These are digital readouts, of course, not hands, but I find myself
looking at my Cambridge 302 altimeter reading much more than the
mechanical one. You can use it in feet or meters, and have plenty of
sensitivity.

The next mechanical altimeter I buy will likely be an INsensitive unit,
like one of the 0-10,000' or 0-20,000 single hand units for less than $150.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA