Question for airliner pilots

[Peter Dowson]

On 4/23/2006 8:22:32 AM, Peter Dowson wrote:
>Anyway, I have found a website from
>which I can get the actual rules.

Okay, I found all the details. That 2000' part has been removed. The current
UK AIP explicitly says, for take-off and climb, that "when cleared for
climb to a flight Level, vertical position will be expressed in terms of Flight
Level, unless intermediate altitude reports have been specifically
requested by ATC".

For descent it states "on vacating the Flight Level, the pilot will change to
the aerodrome QNH unless further Flight Level vacating reports have been
requested by ATC, in which case the aerodrome QNH will be set following the
final Flight Level vacating report".

I've now got this clarified in two separate definitive ways, so I'm happy!


In case anyone else is interested I attach the relevant section of the AIP.

Regards,

Pete

[nrasch0402]

I have asked this question a few times of my pilot buddies and the answer varies with the different companies. More ofthen than not, following the "keep it simple stupid" rule, when cleared to climb up to a FL, they go ahead and set 29.92, when cleared on the way down below 18k, set local pressure. Often times, with two more more altimeters to set, the PF will go ahead and set his altimeter, but the PNF will set the altimeter which the FMC references ony when passing 18K. Of course the text book answer is the latter. Reason being is you may be give a descent (or climb) clearance that takes you through transition, only to be told during the descent (or climb) to hold at an intermediate altitude. This is not such a big deal when there is a small difference between the local altimeter setting and 29.92, but there are those days...

(I know, its all heresay, hope it helps anyway)

[dodiano]

Ok this is my humble opinion as a humble Airline Pilot! You change STD to QNH at Transition Altitude in the U.S is 18,000 feet, In central America is 19,500 feet MSL in Cuba transition altitude is 5000 feet MSL so in the case of Cuba which is really weird you fly to Flight Leve 060 that is 6000 feet passing 5000 you change to QNH... that is Why sometimes the center while on Descent from for example and this is in the U.S. ¨DESCEND FROM 230 TO 100 THOUSAND ALTIMETER 30.06¨since you´ll be crossing the transition they give you the altimeter setting from taht sector for example when approaching LAX they give you te altimeter from Palomar cause you´ll be almost 100 miles from the airport crossing 18,000 feet then when you get to LAX approach you´ll set the LAX altimeter since you have copied on the ATIS if not you can always ask for it... Normally is a small difference!!

Hope it helps

Roberto

[3202b]

Thomas Cook in the Uk change over straight away when cleared below the TL.

[dodiano]

Basically what he says is true Crossing or about to cross the Transition ALtitude! When it blinks in the case of the bus is when we do it...

Regards,

Roberto