QFE or Zero?
Hi folks,
An issue which has been bugging me somewhat of late is the setting of QFE when remaining in the circuit at an air/ground radio licensed airfield. I see some (usually older) instructors will instruct the student to set zero whilst on the ground prior to circuit work and others who will go with the recorded QFE setting as read by the airfield barometer and passed over the radio with it's oft inaccuracy when displayed on the altimeter of +/- 100ft or so...
Who is in the right?
Personally, I always advise setting the QFE (with possible error of +/- 100ft) as reported over the radio as that is what other aircraft arriving in the circuit will be using too, therefore we'll have more chance of being at the same height ergo better chance of spotting them, assuming their altimeter is correctly set and servicable that is!
I guess you could argue a reasonable case for 'zeroing' the altimeter too as that will give a closer accuracy to real 'height' above aerodrome however, in VFR it's not as safety critical in my view as an accuarate QFE due to above mentioned reasons of collision avoidance.
This lack of unity leads me to ask others here their methods and reasoning?
Many thanks,
VFE