AIRBUS OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.3.
3
OPERATIONS FLIGHT PROCEDURES
POLICY MANUAL Altimeter setting Page 1
Content
8.3.3. ALTIMETER SETTING PROCEDURES ..........................................................1
8.3.3.1. General......................................................................................................1
8.3.3.2. Type of altimeter settings ..........................................................................2
8.3.3.3. Setting procedure ......................................................................................2
8.3.3.4. Temperature correction .............................................................................2
8.3.3.5. Altimeter discrepancies in flight .................................................................3
8.3.3.6. Ifr flight level tables - semi circular rules....................................................3
8.3.3. ALTIMETER SETTING PROCEDURES
8.3.3.1. GENERAL
Altimeter Setting procedures are defined in part VI of ICAO "Aircraft operations" DOC
8168-OPS/611 and in part II of ICAO "Rules of the Air and Traffic Services" DOC 4444-
RAC/501/12.
Aircraft altimeter system is described in FCOM systems description volume -"Instruments"
and associated procedures are given in FCOM Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) or
Normal Procedures.
Altimeter tolerances are given in FCOM "Procedures and Techniques / Supplementary
Techniques".
All altimeter misreading are to be treated as reportable incidents.
REV 03
AIRBUS OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.3.3
OPERATIONS FLIGHT PROCEDURES
POLICY MANUAL Altimeter setting Page 2
8.3.3.2. TYPE OF ALTIMETER SETTINGS
The three different types of altimeter settings are “Standard” (1013.25 hPa / 29.92 inHg),
QNH and QFE.
As indicated below, each setting will result in a altimeter indication which provide a
measure of the vertical distance with regard to the ICAO Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
above the particular reference datum shown.
Altimeter setting Reference Datum Altimeter indication
Standard 1013.25 hPa / 29.92 inHg Flight Level
QNH Local mean sea level pressure Altitude
QFE Aerodrome elevation Height above aerodrome
8.3.3.3. SETTING PROCEDURE
When changing an altimeter setting, each pilot will call out the new setting and check
altitudes.
• Take-off and climb
- All take-off will be performed with altimeters set on QNH.
- When passing the transition altitude, altimeters will be set to standard (1013.25
hPa) and baro settings and altitude readings will be cross-checked
• Cruise
- If cruising below or at transition altitude, both pilot altimeters will be on QNH of the
nearest station available.
- If cruising above the transition altitude, both altimeter will be on Standard (1013.25
hPa)
• Descent
- At transition level both pilot reset their altimeter on the appropriate QNH.
8.3.3.4. TEMPERATURE CORRECTION
Temperature deviation from ISA results in erroneous readings on pressure altimeters.
When the temperature is lower than standard, the true altitude is less than indicated
altitude.
REV 03
AIRBUS OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.3.3
OPERATIONS FLIGHT PROCEDURES
POLICY MANUAL Altimeter setting Page 3
Depending on the amount of temperature deviation (on the colder side) and amount of
height to be corrected for, significant deviations between indicated and true altitude can
occur in conditions of extreme cold weather where terrain clearance is a consideration,
corrections should be calculated and a higher indicated altitude established and flown.
Values to be added to the published altitudes are given in 8.1.1.3.1
8.3.3.5. ALTIMETER DISCREPANCIES IN FLIGHT
Except on aircraft fitted with 3 Air Data Reference (ADR) systems, where a faulty system
can be identified, if a difference between altimeter readings occurs during climb or cruise,
the average of the two readings will be used to determine the flight level or altitude.
When a different altimeter reading occurs during the descent and approach phases, the
lower reading altimeter will be used to determine safety heights and critical heights.
However, the glide path height check at the outer markers will be used as a further check,
bearing in mind that the glide slope itself may be inaccurate.
8.3.3.6. IFR FLIGHT LEVEL TABLES - SEMI CIRCULAR RULES
Not applicable for RVSM spaces (refer to 8.3.2.5)
Table 1 - Flight levels ICAO rule
180º - 359º 360º - 179º
ft (x100) metres ft (x100) metres
10 300
20 600 30 900
40 1 200 50 1 500
60 1 850 70 2 150
80 2 450 90 2 750
100 3 050 110 3 350
120 3 650 130 3 950
140 4 250 150 4 450
160 4 900 170 5 200
180 5 500 190 5 800
200 6 100 210 6 400
220 6 700 230 7 000
240 7 300 250 7 600
260 7 900 270 8 250
280 8 550 290 8 850
310 9 450 330 10 050
350 10 650 370 11 300
390 11 900 410 12 500
REV 03
AIRBUS OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.3.3
OPERATIONS FLIGHT PROCEDURES
POLICY MANUAL Altimeter setting Page 4
Table 2 - Flight levels PR of China rule
180º - 359º 360º - 179º
ft (x100) metres ft (x100) metres
20 600 30 900
39 1 200 49 1 500
59 1 800 69 2 100
79 2 400 89 2 700
98 3 000 108 3 300
118 3 600 128 3 900
138 4 200 148 4 500
157 4 800 167 5 100
177 5 400 187 5 700
197 6 000 207 6 300
217 6 600 226 6 900
236 7 200 246 7 500
256 7 800 266 8 100
276 8 400 295 9 000
315 9 600 335 10 200
354 10 800 374 11 400
394 12 000 426 13 000
Table 3 - Flight levels CIS, Mongolia and DPR of Korea rule
180° - 359° 360° - 179°
ft (x100) metres ft (x100) metres
30 900
39 1 200 49 1 500
59 1 800 69 2 100
79 2 400 89 2 700
98 3 000 108 3 300
118 3 600 128 3 900
138 4 200 148 4 500
157 4 800 167 5 100
177 5 400 187 5 700
197 6 000 207 6 300
217 6 600 226 6 900
236 7 200 246 7 500
256 7 800 266 8 100
282 8 600 299 9 100
315 9 600 331 10 100
348 10 600 364 11 100
381 11 600 397 12 100
REV 03
