Hectopascals
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.
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.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 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!
(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!
"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?
Could we raise a petition to bring back millibars?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,576
Received 425 Likes
on
224 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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: LHR/EGLL
Age: 45
Posts: 4,392
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.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.