HD "Why do mil opt to be different to everyone else?"
If you look at JSP 552 (JSP 318A for those of us who can remember) and MATS Part 1 you will find few differences when they talk about the same stuff. Unfortunately, mil controllers tend to apply everything as per the book, whereas civil controllers sometimes tend to do otherwise. Specifically, ATSOCAS! (But lets not get into that again) As far as QFE/QNH is concerned, surely it's better to fly on a pressure setting that gives you a zero reading when you're on the runway? As others have said, it eases co-ordination problems when flying through or near to traffic patterns. As far as coordination with adjacent units is concerned, it's easy as long as you're used to doing those kinds of maths. Most controllers worth their salt will also have a guide made up in their head as to what separation is needed between certain altitudes/heights and differing pressures. Plus which, it's what we're trained to do, so it becomes second nature.
