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QNH is a Q code used by pilots, air traffic control (ATC) and low frequency weather beacons to refer to the barometric altimeter setting which will cause the altimeter to read altitude above mean sea level within a certain defined region. This region may be fairly widespread, or apply only to the airfield for which the QNH was given. An airfield QNH will cause the altimeter to read field elevation on landing irrespective of the temperature. In the UK the lowest forecast value of QNH for an altimeter setting region is called the "Regional Pressure Setting" and may be used to ensure safe terrain separation when cruising at lower altitudes. In some parts of the world a similar procedure is adopted and this is known as "Regional QNH" however this name has been modified to the above in the UK for reasons of ambiguity.
In contrast, QFE refers to the altimeter setting that will cause the altimeter to read the height above a specific aerodrome, and therefore zero on landing. While using QFE is convenient while flying in a traffic circuit of an airfield, the most common procedure when flying "cross country" is to set the altimeter to either the local QNH or the standard pressure setting (1013 hPa). When 1013 mbs is set on an altimeter subscale the aircraft's vertical position is referred to as a Flight level instead of an altitude. QFE - aircraft's HEIGHT above an aerodrome, QNH - aircraft's ALTITUDE above sea level, 1013 mbs(standard atmosphere)- aircraft's FLIGHT LEVEL above the 1013 mbs pressure datum.
QNH and QFE are just two of the Q codes that were used when the only method of communication was Morse code. Originally radio operators could choose codes from AA to ZZ, and decode them from a Q code book. The letters of the Q code do not in themselves mean anything, only it's position in the list of codes. Q codes saved time, for instance, instead of a radio operator transmitting "To what pressure setting do I set my altimeter subscale so that it indicates altitude above sea level ?" he would send "QNH".
Student pilots sometimes remember QNH as "Query Newlyn Harbour". Newlyn Harbour in Cornwall, UK is home to the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility which is a reference for mean sea level. Another way to remember is "Q - Not Here" meaning it refers to the pressure setting that applies away from the airfield. This is to distinguish it from QFE, which novices sometimes confuse.
ATC may update pilots with the QNH on a regular basis. A typical radio conversation might go:
- Pilot: Golf Whiskey Alpha Charlie Foxtrot, requesting Cotswold QNH
- ATC: Golf Charlie Fox, Cotswold QNH one-zero-one-three
- Pilot: QNH one-zero-one-three, Golf Charlie Fox
Here, the pilot of G-WACF requests the regional air pressure, which is given as 1013 millibars for the Cotswold region (one of twenty Altimeter Setting Regions into which UK Lower Airspace is divided). The pilot reads back the safety-critical part of the transmission (in this case the QNH), as he is required to do.
In most parts of the world, QNH is given in millibars (or hectopascals). In North America, QNH is given in inches and hundredths thereof inches of mercury (in the example, ATC would say "Golf Charlie Fox, altimeter two niner niner two" as in 29.92 inches of mercury).
See also
"QNH"