Altimeter readings in other countries
 

Hello everyone! This is a question for those who fly non US-aircraft
In places where metric system is standard, do you use meters for altitude or feet? And if so, on newer ac like the a320/777 can you switch from meters to feet?

Most of the world uses altitude in feet, and in the rest of the world pressure settings are given in hectopascals (hPa). 1013.25hPa = 29.92 inches. You may hear people reference millibars, but officially ICAO uses hPa. 1013 hPa = 1013 mb
Former Soviet Union countries utilize altitude in meters and China also gives altitudes in meters . There are conversion charts depending in which country you are flyingg, but you are given altitude in meters and you reference the chart and get the conversion in feet.

US registered aircraft still follow these procedures when flying in these countries.

Ah ok, makes sense. But do all Chinese A/C use meters? If so that ought to be confusing for all the expat pilots who are used to feet

You use the units in use by the controlling authority for whatever airspace you're in. Everybody on the radio talks in the same units, and those who need to do conversions do it in the privacy of their own cockpit, without bothering everyone else.

It's not that Chinese aircraft use meters. It's all aircraft flying into China and Russia fly meters.

China:
Below RVSM: ATC assigns altitudes in meters. The pilot can fly meters if his altimeter is capable of displaying meters. Or he can use a chart to convert the meter into feet.

In RVSM: ATC assigns altitudes in meters. The pilot uses a chart to convert the meter into feet. He then flies the aircraft in feet. This is a requirement regardless of whether or not his altimeter can display feet.

It's important to note that all conversions must be made using the chart due to rounding. You can't use a calculator.

It's a little confusing at first, and so is reading back the altitudes in meters but you get used to it.

Russia went to Flight Levels in feet a few years ago but still uses meters below transition. Plus they have a thing for QFE and sometimes forget even if you ask for QNH.

Some newer aircraft do allow for displaying meters alongside feet. Pretty nice feature.
http://www.openeaagles.org/wiki/lib/...uments:fd2.png

twin wasp

Or, just set QFE and fly the QFE heights!

GF

Your feet aren't just for kicking tires. :D

Ops Specs at MANY companies do not allow this