Originally Posted by
xrayalpha
Basically, only the UK - as far as I am aware - really uses QFE.
For one thing, if you were on high ground you won't be able to wind the altimeter down far enough to get it to read QFE! Even in the UK, with Strathaven being 847ft AMSL, we can have this problem. I have even heard that Loganair one time in a deep winter low couldn't even set QNH flying out of Orkney or Shetland one winter, but that is another story!
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Russia, China and some of the -stans still use QFE. Will normally be able to provide QNH to non-local aircraft.
American Airlines used QFE until the late 80s/early 90s. The crews converted QNH to QFE. I heard one Captain had converted a power drill to set the altimeter going into Mexico City.