Transition Heights
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Blairgowrie,Scotland
Transition Height anywhere is nominally 3000ft ,but varied,as I said by pressure. Could be 2500ft or 3500ft,but rarely any further from 3000ft.
For those still baffled,Transition height is the point at which aircraft change from height in feet to Flight Levels ie 3000ft to FL30.
Hope this helps.
For those still baffled,Transition height is the point at which aircraft change from height in feet to Flight Levels ie 3000ft to FL30.
Hope this helps.
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 692
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From: Blairgowrie,Scotland
Mike,you are not wrong!
QNH(variable) is the pressure set to give an altimeter height above Sea Level.
Flight Levels are ALWAYS flown with an altimeter setting of 1013.2 mb.
As you pass the transition height,you change from QNH to 1013.2 and from that point you are flying 'Flight Levels'.
You may even transition from QFE(height above the GROUND) to 1013.2 or Flight Levels.
QNH(variable) is the pressure set to give an altimeter height above Sea Level.
Flight Levels are ALWAYS flown with an altimeter setting of 1013.2 mb.
As you pass the transition height,you change from QNH to 1013.2 and from that point you are flying 'Flight Levels'.
You may even transition from QFE(height above the GROUND) to 1013.2 or Flight Levels.
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Joined: Jul 1997
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From: Europe
'Height' is always a vertical distance above an airfield, the pressure datum is the QFE.
What you might be referring to is the Transition Altitude which is measured above sea level using the QNH pressure datum.
It is currently 3000' in the UK, except for specific areas such as around London, Central Scotland and Belfast, where it is 6000'. In Manchester and Birmingham, it is something else yet again.
No idea about the Glasgow setting in the 70's, it has been at least 6000' since 1981 though, if not before
What you might be referring to is the Transition Altitude which is measured above sea level using the QNH pressure datum.
It is currently 3000' in the UK, except for specific areas such as around London, Central Scotland and Belfast, where it is 6000'. In Manchester and Birmingham, it is something else yet again.
No idea about the Glasgow setting in the 70's, it has been at least 6000' since 1981 though, if not before
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Glasgow
Hi Guys ,
Thanks for this info. The reason I am asking is that my father was a pilot with BEA. He was killed in 1973 flying a viscount into a mountain in perthshire. Just north of Loch Lommond. i was wondering how someone with 8000 hours flying in scotland could miss a mountain of such height. Ben More is 3852ft in height.
Thanks for this info. The reason I am asking is that my father was a pilot with BEA. He was killed in 1973 flying a viscount into a mountain in perthshire. Just north of Loch Lommond. i was wondering how someone with 8000 hours flying in scotland could miss a mountain of such height. Ben More is 3852ft in height.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Glasgow
No problems matey. i just have a bee in my bonnet at the moment. I have a full copy of the crash report, but some people say that in the 70's reports like these are more of a whitewash an a proper investigation. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Glasgow
Pilot error. But a few of my fathers ex workmates have said that the second officer had a habbit of changing to 1013 regardless of what was happening. He was ex RAF and some say taught to do that os it was a habbit. 
Dont suppose I will ever find out the truth. I can send you a copy f the report if you wish. It is a 1.5 Mb word doc. 
Dont suppose I will ever find out the truth. I can send you a copy f the report if you wish. It is a 1.5 Mb word doc.
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From: Europe
[email protected] for me. Cheers !!
Still behind the curtain
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Arizona, USA
Meters vs. Feet
Well, there you have it. Remember the Delhi crash a few years ago when the Ukrainian (I believe) and was it Air India collided in the air. The Ukrainians were reading meters while the other aircraft was reading feet.
I believe on all international flights ICAO demands readings in feet and not in meters. This Delhi incident is not the only time feet and meters have been screwed up causing serious accidents.
When will the former Soviets learn to use SOP procedures and why do they always chat in Russian with ATC when there clearly are other international aircraft around whose pilots have no idea what the Ruskies are blabbing about, especially during critical approaches and take-offs.
I believe on all international flights ICAO demands readings in feet and not in meters. This Delhi incident is not the only time feet and meters have been screwed up causing serious accidents.
When will the former Soviets learn to use SOP procedures and why do they always chat in Russian with ATC when there clearly are other international aircraft around whose pilots have no idea what the Ruskies are blabbing about, especially during critical approaches and take-offs.