Joe Dell wrote:Referring to the OP. Why would I want to go down the airfield (UK) and fly circuits on anything other than QFE?
Can anyone give me one good reason not to? Where's the advantage in sitting on the ground and winding my altimeter up from zero to airfield elevation?
- Flying using the QNH allows you to gross error check the function of your altimeter before you get going;
- Flying using the QNH gives you relevant information in relation to obstacles, terrain and airspace around you;
- Flying using the QNH equips you with the correct information when you are flying to other airfields and avoids the need to change altimeter settings unnecessarily - you just read the circuit altitude from the plate;
- Flying using the QNH prepares you to fly to/from airfields which are higher than the sub scale lets you wind off;
- Flying using the QNH prepares you to fly abroad and to airfields where a QFE may not be available (either by convention or because there is nobody who can give you the QFE over the radio);
- Flying using the QNH prepares you for the day that you decide to continue your training and development and either go and fly on instruments in IMC or strip flying where the QNH is a lot more useful to have than a QFE from an airfield you are not going back to;
- Flying using the QNH makes you more weather aware.
Other than that I can not see any advantage of using the QNH over the QFE.