Wikiposts
Search
ATC Issues A place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.

Hectopascals

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11th Sep 2017, 10:28
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hectopascals

I've just noticed the word hectopascals being added to radio transmissions recently. Previously the controller would just say QHN 1011 and we all knew what he/she meant. This was all much tidier and led to shorter radio transmissions.

Is there a reason for this change, can we go back to the old way of not defining the units for pressure? Or using the word millibar which was less lumpy to say.
18greens is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 10:43
  #2 (permalink)  

Avoid imitations
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes on 222 Posts
We've been having to read this back for quite some years now. We're all Europeans now.

(Except them 'Murricans, one of whom apparently didn't know that you're not supposed to set part of a European/metric setting on the inches subscale and subsequently frightened himself).

Some ATCOs are now totally unneccessary about it. How we managed in years gone by, no-one knows!
ShyTorque is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:10
  #3 (permalink)  
Gender Faculty Specialist
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Stop being so stupid, it's Sean's turn
Posts: 1,885
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
You are only required to add hectopascal if the pressure is below 1000.
Chesty Morgan is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:10
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: An Airport Near You
Posts: 673
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Usually just used when pressure is below 1000.
360BakTrak is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:18
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: SE England
Posts: 686
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
"hectopascals" is a non-optional suffix for less than 1000 hPa, but I tend to add it for higher pressures if the accent or airline would suggest regular North American operations. Probably a bad habit.

Could we raise a petition to bring back millibars?
Dan Dare is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:26
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: UK
Age: 42
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It is a requirement to pass it when the pressure is below 1000 hpa. It is also a mandatory readback.

If it's any consolation, I can speak for the majority of atcos at my unit, we hate having to say it too. And more so when we insist it's readback. However, that's the rules. CAP413 refers.
Doody2007 is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:34
  #7 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So the Hpa thing is to stop the umbrellastands reading QNH 992 as 29.92 inches? I think i'm beginning to understand..Thanks!

And the rule about it only being read out when its less than 1000 would account for why I seldom hear it, only flying on beautiful high pressure days...

Yes lets bring back Mb.
18greens is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:46
  #8 (permalink)  

Avoid imitations
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes on 222 Posts
Originally Posted by 18greens
So the Hpa thing is to stop the umbrellastands reading QNH 992 as 29.92 inches? I think i'm beginning to understand..Thanks!

And the rule about it only being read out when its less than 1000 would account for why I seldom hear it, only flying on beautiful high pressure days...

Yes lets bring back Mb.
Correct!
ShyTorque is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 11:53
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Wildest Surrey
Age: 75
Posts: 10,814
Received 95 Likes on 68 Posts
Originally Posted by 18greens
Yes lets bring back Mb.
I, and I think most other controllers/FISOs/pilots would agree, but unfortunately some ******** at ICAO thinks otherwise.
chevvron is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 14:02
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why on earth would we (re-)introduce new phraseology that would only be used in the UK? Are we looking to become even more non-standard than we are already?

I'm sure Russian ATC would love to have remained using metres as the unit of level, and US ATC to have remained using 'position and hold' rather than 'line up and wait'.

Is it really that bad? We should be looking at more standardisation across the world, not less.
Gonzo is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 17:07
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: jersey
Age: 74
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Gonzo
Why on earth would we (re-)introduce new phraseology that would only be used in the UK? Are we looking to become even more non-standard than we are already?

I'm sure Russian ATC would love to have remained using metres as the unit of level, and US ATC to have remained using 'position and hold' rather than 'line up and wait'.

Is it really that bad? We should be looking at more standardisation across the world, not less.
I agree on the standardisation issue, Gonzo ; but weren't we standardised on millibars before the powers that be decided to replace that with hectopascals (which are exactly the same values as MBs !)
kcockayne is online now  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 17:27
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd suggest that 99.9% of aircraft operatig over Europe and surrounds ARE NOT flying on the inches subscale and are using millabars/hectopastels day-in, day-out, year-in, year-out nay decade-in, decade-out. The 'confusion' thereby necessitating this needless waste of breath only exists in the minds of yet another ground-based 'safety' committee.
MaxReheat is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 18:01
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,816
Received 201 Likes on 93 Posts
Originally Posted by Dan Dare
Could we raise a petition to bring back millibars?
Could be one of the few positives to emerge from Brexit.
DaveReidUK is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 18:26
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: The foot of Mt. Belzoni.
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It could be much worse.

Imagine if, instead of Pascal, the early pressure research had been carried out by by Boyle, or Gay Lussac.

Bring back Millibars and OKTAs. The Wx was much better and the summers were much warmer when we used those babies.
ZOOKER is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 18:26
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Richmond Texas
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Jest as an aside..

The ISO discourages the use of hecto, centi, deci etc.

After an excellent landing etc...
Flash2001 is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 18:35
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Wherever someone will pay me to do fun stuff
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The ISO discourages the use of hecto, centi, deci etc.
Mmmmm - QNH 101300 Pascal. Yup, so much easier.
LookingForAJob is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 18:42
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Richmond Texas
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How 'bout Kilo?
Flash2001 is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 19:56
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by MaxReheat
I'd suggest that 99.9% of aircraft operatig over Europe and surrounds ARE NOT flying on the inches subscale and are using millabars/hectopastels day-in, day-out, year-in, year-out nay decade-in, decade-out. The 'confusion' thereby necessitating this needless waste of breath only exists in the minds of yet another ground-based 'safety' committee.
Yes, let's ignore the level busts and near-level busts caused by N. American-based crews hearing 992(mb/hpa) and entering 29.92(in) (or similar), let alone the many every U.K. controller has caught at the readback stage.
Gonzo is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 20:52
  #19 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ZOOKER
It could be much worse.

Bring back Millibars and OKTAs. The Wx was much better and the summers were much warmer when we used those babies.
Ah I miss OKTAs. Better than Frank Sucks Big Ones. It will never leave me , nor any of my students. and yes the weather was better....

Last edited by 18greens; 11th Sep 2017 at 21:22.
18greens is offline  
Old 11th Sep 2017, 21:29
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: behind the fruit
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It was introduced in 2011.
Was awkward for a couple of days and then business as usual.

Shows the adaptability to change of some in this profession
LEGAL TENDER is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.