Who's flying out of the higest elev airport?

ShawnD2112 wrote:


Here in the UK, setting the altimeter to field elevation, QFE, before
takeoff is not only allowed, it's taught and expected.

It is taught and expected here too.


Likewise, when
approaching the airfield, you're expected to reset the altimeter to that
airfield's QFE in the pattern.

Same here.

"ShawnD2112" wrote in message
...
Dudley,
Interesting that the "right or wrongness" of the issue is of such a
concern.
Isn't it funny how different cultures view the same problem with different
perspectives? Here in the UK, no motorcycle rider would even think of
getting on a bike without a full set of leathers, helmet, and gloves. In
the States, guys ride in shorts, sneakers, and no helmets where they can.
On the other side of the coin, Brits "filter" through traffic on
motorcycles, riding between lanes just to get through traffic faster,
whether it be in the city or the highway. Most Americans think that's too
dangerous to think about.

Here in the UK, setting the altimeter to field elevation, QFE, before
takeoff is not only allowed, it's taught and expected. Likewise, when
approaching the airfield, you're expected to reset the altimeter to that
airfield's QFE in the pattern. In the States, we would think that would
lead to all kinds of altitude-related accidents.

Different perspectives, but who's to say what's right and wrong?

Shawn

Hi Shawn;

Your comment on using QFE in the UK brings up an interesting point that I'm
researching right now and perhaps you can answer for me possibly.
Here in the U.S., our altimeters have a Kollsman range of about 27.5 and
32.0. This, considering an average atmosphere, denies you setting an
altimeter to 0 on any airport runway above about 2500 to 3000 feet MSL!!!
I'm wondering, since QFE is common in the UK, and by definition QFE is a
station pressure setting that will produce a 0 reading on the altimeter when
on the ground at that station; are your altimeters in the UK equipped with a
wider Kollsman range in the setting windows perhaps, and if not, how can a
QFE setting be used at airports with elevations above our limits here in the
U.S? It's an interesting point....or I must be missing something in my old
age :-))
Dudley

Dudley,

if it's still useful for the number game ;*) ...
Here at LAM (7171ft, for 30.54) I get 4850ft for 28.1

Cheers
Chris

PP-ASEL
Student Glider Pilot
New Mexico

Dudley Henriques wrote:
Hey, you mountain types out there :-) I'm doing some research on a safety
issue and need your help . I need a post from someone flying out of Colorado
somewhere, preferably Telluride or a field very close to Telluride. I need
as close to the highest elevation in the U.S. as I can get.
I'm not dealing with this issue in the context of right or wrong as it
pertains to mountain flying. I need to know if the Kollsman window in your
altimeters has a wide enough range to allow you, IF YOU DESIRED TO DO SO, to
set your altimeters to 0 elevation on a consistent basis before take off at
your field instead of a MSL setting. Again, I'm only interested in the
possibility, not the right and wrongs involved with doing this.
Thanks,
Dudley Henriques
International Fighter Pilots Fellowship
Commercial Pilot/ CFI Retired
For personal email, please replace
the z's with e's.
dhenriquesATzarthlinkDOTnzt

Where are you Newps?
Dudley

"Newps" wrote in message
news:dBp3c.91932$PR3.1448201@attbi_s03...


ShawnD2112 wrote:


Here in the UK, setting the altimeter to field elevation, QFE, before
takeoff is not only allowed, it's taught and expected.

It is taught and expected here too.


Likewise, when
approaching the airfield, you're expected to reset the altimeter to that
airfield's QFE in the pattern.

Same here.

Billings, MT. I did not get from reading Chris's posts that they adjust
their altimeters so that they get a zero reading on the ground. I
understood that they do it just like us. If you really want the ground
to be zero then you need a radar altimeter.




Dudley Henriques wrote:

Where are you Newps?
Dudley

"Newps" wrote in message
news:dBp3c.91932$PR3.1448201@attbi_s03...


ShawnD2112 wrote:



Here in the UK, setting the altimeter to field elevation, QFE, before
takeoff is not only allowed, it's taught and expected.

It is taught and expected here too.


Likewise, when

approaching the airfield, you're expected to reset the altimeter to that
airfield's QFE in the pattern.

Same here.

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message news:IIp3c.4260$ Here in the UK, setting the altimeter to This,
considering an average atmosphere, denies you setting an
altimeter to 0 on any airport runway above about 2500 to 3000 feet MSL!!!

The highest elevation (Ben Nevis) in the UK is under 4500 feet. The highest airport isn't
even close to that.

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


how can a
QFE setting be used at airports with elevations above our limits here in the
U.S?

I bet it can't. The highest point in England is 3210' and
Scotland only goes to 4400'.
Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
___
Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
Share what you learn.

BINGO!! Understanding the QFE question requires the understanding that all
anticipated destinations are below the limit parameters of the Kollsman
window....which is correct enough....but like most regulations, the way it's
written is just plain nuts!!!!
Why the hell the powers that be would put in a QFE option without explaining
that it's tied directly to the Kollsman parameters on the altimeters is
beyond me. I must know a hundred pilots who think it's an available option
anywhere!!! :-))

It's funny about things like this. I've been reading everything I can find
on the use of QFE, even that American Airlines had tried having their first
officers monitoring a QFE altimeter with the Captain using a standard
altimeter setting on final approaches, (which I understand is no longer the
case BTW) and there is absolutely nothing out there that specifies the
limiting parameter for QFE due to Kollsman range limits on the instrument
for airports outside the instrument parameters.
It's amazing that the governing agencies who write this stuff just assume
that sooner or later all of us will just figure out that only airports under
3K feet are eligible for the QFE option. Interesting!!!
I have to admit, it's basic enough, but for someone reading the regulations,
the assumption is that a QFE setting is available at all anticipated
destinations. I haven't found a reference anywhere that explains QFE as
available only within the Kollsman range. Understanding the regulation seems
to require a prior knowledge of the Kollsman limits to understand the
situation completely, which in many cases causes much misinterpretation of
the QFE options.
Dudley


"Todd Pattist" wrote in message
...
"Dudley Henriques" wrote:


how can a
QFE setting be used at airports with elevations above our limits here in
the
U.S?

I bet it can't. The highest point in England is 3210' and
Scotland only goes to 4400'.
Todd Pattist
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)
___
Make a commitment to learn something from every flight.
Share what you learn.

"Newps" wrote in message
news:XSp3c.90616$ko6.554153@attbi_s02...
Billings, MT. I did not get from reading Chris's posts that they adjust
their altimeters so that they get a zero reading on the ground. I
understood that they do it just like us. If you really want the ground
to be zero then you need a radar altimeter.

Well, not really. If you can get the actual station pressure, (not the
altimeter setting for the station reduced to sea level ) and the airport
elevation is within the Kollsman limits, the altimeter should read 0 on the
ground after landing. This is the definition as I understand it, for the QFE
setting.
Dudley

Dudley Henriques wrote:

It's amazing that the governing agencies who write this stuff just assume
that sooner or later all of us will just figure out that only airports under
3K feet are eligible for the QFE option. Interesting!!!

Don't you have this backwards? Shouldn't it read: Just because QFE isn't
common in the USA, the manufactorers assume that it's not common
elsewhere either, and sell unsuitable instruments?

Stefan