The MCP Alt selector can only be utilised in feet, so accordingly you switch it out of "1000's" for more accurate foot selection.
Airline SOPs may vary but generally, on receipt of your assigned Metres Altitude, the PF rotates the MCP Alt knob while visually verifying what they have set on his PFD Alt window. The PM after referring to a "Feet vs Metres Ref Card" (usually company provided), cross checks the metres/feet & calls the Feet equivalent Altitude & confirms it is what the PM has set in the MCP Alt window.
In practice it runs concurrently & smoothly, if the other pilot is listening/understands the ATC language, which can be quite tricky. :-)
A sound SOPS/cockpit process is key, as its got the potential to go FUBAR very quickly, given that track offsets (1nm - 8nm) are also used in these dense traffic areas.
Same on all Boeings I have flown.
Not sure about Scarebus, not had the pleasure.
Happy landings :-)
Last edited by Chocks Away; 17th Oct 2013 at 09:59.