Which statement correctly maps altitude reference to the altimeter setting for IFR flight?

Which statement correctly maps altitude reference to the altimeter setting for IFR flight?

• A. QFE = Height; QNH = Altitude; SPS = Flight Level
• B. QFE = Altitude; QNH = Height; SPS = Flight Level
• C. QFE = Flight Level; QNH = Altitude; SPS = Height
• D. QFE = Height; QNH = Flight Level; SPS = Altitude

Answer: (A)

Altimeter settings define which pressure reference the instrument uses, so the reading corresponds to different vertical references. Setting QFE uses the pressure at the airfield. When you tune QFE, the altimeter indicates height above the airfield elevation, i.e., your height above that aerodrome. Setting QNH uses the local sea‑level pressure. With QNH, the altimeter shows altitude above mean sea level, which is what pilots typically refer to as true altitude when operating in non‑transition conditions. Setting the standard pressure (SPS) to 1013 hPa yields flight levels. In this mode, the instrument displays pressure altitude, and the readout is used as a flight level rather than a height above the surface or above mean sea level. So the correct mapping is: QFE corresponds to Height, QNH corresponds to Altitude, and SPS corresponds to Flight Level.

Altimeter settings define which pressure reference the instrument uses, so the reading corresponds to different vertical references.

Setting QFE uses the pressure at the airfield. When you tune QFE, the altimeter indicates height above the airfield elevation, i.e., your height above that aerodrome.

Setting QNH uses the local sea‑level pressure. With QNH, the altimeter shows altitude above mean sea level, which is what pilots typically refer to as true altitude when operating in non‑transition conditions.

Setting the standard pressure (SPS) to 1013 hPa yields flight levels. In this mode, the instrument displays pressure altitude, and the readout is used as a flight level rather than a height above the surface or above mean sea level.

So the correct mapping is: QFE corresponds to Height, QNH corresponds to Altitude, and SPS corresponds to Flight Level.