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Aviation vocabulary · Navigation & Instruments

QNH

Meaning in aviation, with examples

abbreviationCommon term

In aviation, QNH means: The pressure setting that makes an altimeter show altitude above mean sea level. With QNH set, an altimeter on the ground shows the airport's elevation.

In Turkish: QNH, altimetre ayarı, deniz seviyesine indirgenmiş basınç

How it is used

Given in hectopascals in most countries ('QNH 1013') and as an 'altimeter setting' in inches of mercury in the US ('altimeter 29.92'). Pilots set it below the transition level and read it back. QFE is the setting that shows height above the airport.

Example sentences

  1. Fastair 345, descend to altitude 5,000 feet, QNH 1009.

  2. Make sure both altimeters are set to the new QNH before the approach.

Common collocations

  • set QNH
  • QNH 1013
  • local QNH
  • QNH and QFE
  • altitudeThe vertical distance of an aircraft above mean sea level, usually given in feet. Height, by contrast, is measured from the ground or the airport.
  • flight levelA cruising level used above the transition altitude, measured with the standard pressure setting of 1013 hPa and given in hundreds of feet: FL350 is about 35,000 feet.
  • METARA routine weather report for an airport, issued every 30 or 60 minutes in a short code: wind, visibility, weather, cloud, temperature and pressure.
  • readbackRepeating an ATC clearance or instruction back to the controller, so that the controller can confirm it was heard and understood correctly.

More terms: Navigation & Instruments

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