Acronym QNH
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Query Newlyn Harbour ....
or Query Newlyn Height
Newlyn harbour is home to the NewLyn Tidal Observatory. This is the reference for "Mean Sea Level".
newlyn cornwall - Google Maps
File:Newlyn Tidal observatory Map 1946.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
or Query Newlyn Height
Newlyn harbour is home to the NewLyn Tidal Observatory. This is the reference for "Mean Sea Level".
newlyn cornwall - Google Maps
File:Newlyn Tidal observatory Map 1946.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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When I flew, I would frequently hear requests for the "Fox Echo", or be given the "Fox Echo" by ATC.
On the other hand, I do not recall ever hearing "November Hotel" being given nor requested.
In them days EGSH had an NDB labelled "NH", now decommissioned I gather.
Was this therefore just a local thing to avoid confusion?
Where is Niknak when we need him?
On the other hand, I do not recall ever hearing "November Hotel" being given nor requested.
In them days EGSH had an NDB labelled "NH", now decommissioned I gather.
Was this therefore just a local thing to avoid confusion?
Where is Niknak when we need him?
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Not so sure about the Q being Question. If you go back to the basic morse procedure the codes were used with additional modifiers so that requests or questions could be indicated> For example QDL IMI meant "I request a series of bearings." QSL meant "I request an acknowledgment of my transmission." No "Question" implied in those cases. Also the initial coding could imply the request and the same coding would be used in the response. So sending QDM from a mobile station asked for a magnetic bearing; the ground station would then transmit QDM xxx for the relevant response.
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QNH, as many have asserted, does not stand for anything.
It's just one of the many Q Codes; hang-over from key/Morse comms; since voice came into common use they are absolutely precise, well-understood shorthand and very useful too.
I can only recall a few apart from the ones still in use like QDM, whose opposite I've forgotten, QFE, etc.
As a learner in the '60s I learned the QDM cloudbreak/let-down/approach procedure, using bearings for one's transmissions reported by ATC as the sole reference for horizontal position. My little circular gizmo for that is still in my bag, but it was better to keep the vertical and horizontal situations in your head while flying it and not use the gizmo.
QGH was similar but controller-managed; you had to respond when he/she called and do exactly what you were told. Controllers would boast about how they could handle 6 simultaneously and not lose track of any of them.
It's just one of the many Q Codes; hang-over from key/Morse comms; since voice came into common use they are absolutely precise, well-understood shorthand and very useful too.
I can only recall a few apart from the ones still in use like QDM, whose opposite I've forgotten, QFE, etc.
As a learner in the '60s I learned the QDM cloudbreak/let-down/approach procedure, using bearings for one's transmissions reported by ATC as the sole reference for horizontal position. My little circular gizmo for that is still in my bag, but it was better to keep the vertical and horizontal situations in your head while flying it and not use the gizmo.
QGH was similar but controller-managed; you had to respond when he/she called and do exactly what you were told. Controllers would boast about how they could handle 6 simultaneously and not lose track of any of them.
Back in '1970, in preparation for the move into Mediator Stage 1 at West Drayton, some of the 'crew chief designates' had to re-validate on LATCC radar sectors. A certain very senior controller caused some hilarity to us Radar Monitors (we updated the perspex edge-lit display boards for the radar controllers who were at Heathrow, with the 'D' controllers on the same frequency being at WD) by clearing a flight to route 'direct to XXX your Queen Dog Mike is ......!'
Aahem! ... I remember being told/taught that Mean Sea Level was measured at 2 different points in the UK, one of them being Newlyn and the other somewhere on the East coast.
If that is the case then is the Tyne Altimeter Setting Region (ASR) measured with respect to a different datum from that of Wessex ASR?
If that is the case then is the Tyne Altimeter Setting Region (ASR) measured with respect to a different datum from that of Wessex ASR?
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Not sure how true..... but have been told it's a hang over from the days of morse code abbreviations....
QNH = Question Nil Height
QFE = Question Field Elevation
Set QNH and your altimeter reads height above sea level - pressure setting to correct altimeter to Nil Height datum(sea level).
Set QFE and your altimeter reads zero at the aerodrome that it's accurate for - pressure setting to correct altimeter to field elevation datum.
QNH = Question Nil Height
QFE = Question Field Elevation
Set QNH and your altimeter reads height above sea level - pressure setting to correct altimeter to Nil Height datum(sea level).
Set QFE and your altimeter reads zero at the aerodrome that it's accurate for - pressure setting to correct altimeter to field elevation datum.
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.. is the Tyne Altimeter Setting Region (ASR) measured with respect to a different datum from that of Wessex ASR?
It's what you set on your altimeter as the MSL pressure when you enter a new ASR, so as to have a fighting chance of not hitting a hill, and if landing in that ASR on QNH and not QFE, of hitting the runway when you expect that to happen.
So the answer to your question is "no". The MSL datum used is the same, regardless of which ASR you are in.
Unless an expert knows better.....
Hyperborean is nearest to being correct.
The 'Q' was NOTHING to do with questioning. It was just a common starting letter for a variety of shorthand codings for various bits of aeronautical information. If it was used to request information, it was followed by the suffix IMI - those three characters sent as one, NOT separated. It was the civilian version of a similar range of codes for military use which were preceded by 'Z' - cannot now remember any examples but, for 'Z' codes, the interrogative was INT - also sent as a single character.
The various "Newlyn Harbour", Field Elevation" etc., were simply various people's attempts to provide aide memoires for the meanings.
The 'Q' was NOTHING to do with questioning. It was just a common starting letter for a variety of shorthand codings for various bits of aeronautical information. If it was used to request information, it was followed by the suffix IMI - those three characters sent as one, NOT separated. It was the civilian version of a similar range of codes for military use which were preceded by 'Z' - cannot now remember any examples but, for 'Z' codes, the interrogative was INT - also sent as a single character.
The various "Newlyn Harbour", Field Elevation" etc., were simply various people's attempts to provide aide memoires for the meanings.
Am in total agreement with Cornish Jack and Hyperborean on this issue.
As an aside, the NOTAM Codes (introduced to provide consistent dissemination of aeronautical data) also begin with "Q";..no "question" about that...
As an aside, the NOTAM Codes (introduced to provide consistent dissemination of aeronautical data) also begin with "Q";..no "question" about that...
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No idea about the other codes HD, just repeating what I've read in texts. Was trying to be helpful in a spotters thread where maybe everyone doesn't know what QNH means. I could have articulated a little better I admit 
, but then I'm not a lecturer.
I usually don't bother, but having read responses saying "it doesn't mean anything" I felt obliged.
FWIW - I've also read "Question Nil Height" (as mentioned by Winglet) in other texts.
, but then I'm not a lecturer.I usually don't bother, but having read responses saying "it doesn't mean anything" I felt obliged.
FWIW - I've also read "Question Nil Height" (as mentioned by Winglet) in other texts.
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It's neither an abbreviation nor an acronym. It's a code.
This website (already mentioned for the z codes) Ralf D. Kloth DL4TA - List of Q-codes gives a good overview of meaning, use and history of Q codes.
An aircraft would request QNH? to which the reply would be QNH1030 or QNH2992INS.
Ps: Since the 'Q' is used in both the question and the reply, it can definitely not mean 'question'.
..._._
This website (already mentioned for the z codes) Ralf D. Kloth DL4TA - List of Q-codes gives a good overview of meaning, use and history of Q codes.
An aircraft would request QNH? to which the reply would be QNH1030 or QNH2992INS.
Ps: Since the 'Q' is used in both the question and the reply, it can definitely not mean 'question'.
..._._
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See ACP131 (Operating Signals) for a full list of Q and Z codes.
