ALTIMETER SETTING PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION

A list of the applicable rules can be consulted in section GEN 1.6. In the sections below, a descriptive summary is offered to help airspace users, although if there is any discrepancy, the Rule will prevail over the content of the AIP. The content of this AIP section does not fulfil the quality requirements.

The altimeter setting procedures generally conform to those contained in ICAO Doc. 8168-OPS/611 and are explained in detail in the following paragraphs.

GENERAL

Transition altitude at Spanish aerodromes is established at 6000 ft, except:

• Andorra-La Seu D’Urgell where it is 8000 ft.
• Granada/Federico García Lorca.Granada-Jaén where it is 7000 ft.
• Madrid/Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, Madrid/Getafe, Madrid/Cuatro Vientos, Madrid/Torrejón and Málaga/Costa del Sol where it is 13000 ft.

Vertical position of aircraft at or below the transition altitude is expressed in terms of altitudes whereas at or above the transition level it is expressed in terms of flight levels. While passing through the transition layer, vertical position is expressed in terms of flight levels when climbing and in terms of altitude when descending.

Flight level zero is located at the atmospheric pressure level 1013.2 HPa (29.92 inches). Consecutive flight levels are separated by a pressure interval corresponding to 500 ft (152.4 m) in the standard atmosphere.

PROVISION OF INFORMATION ON ALTIMETER SETTING

Air traffic service units shall have available, at all times, for transmission to aircraft in flight, on request, the information necessary to determine the lowest flight level that ensure an adequate vertical margin over the ground, in the routes or segments thereof, where such information is required.

This information may consist of climatological data, if so formulated in regional air navigation agreements.

Flight information centres and area control centers shall have available, for transmission to aircraft in flight on request, an adequate number of QNH or pressure forecasts reports regarding flight information regions and control areas under their responsability.

The altimeter setting communicated to aircraft shall be rounded to the nearest lower whole hectopascal.

EN-ROUTE

An aircraft shall be flown en-route at the cruising level corresponding to its magnetic track and type of flight (IFR or VFR), as detailed below. Cruising levels to be flown en-route are referred to:

1. Flight levels (FL), for those flights conducted at a level equal to or above the minimum usable flight level.
2. Altitudes, for those flights conducted below the minimum usable flight level.

APPROACH AND LANDING

The QNH reference shall be made available in the routine approach and landing clearances.

Vertical position of aircraft is expressed by reference to flight levels until they cross the transition level, below which it is expressed by reference to altitudes.

NOTE: Within TMA MADRID and TMA CANARIAS the military jet aircraft authorized for uninterrupted penetration must change to altitudes on initial descent.

The QFE reference shall be provided on request, as shown below:

1. The respective threshold elevation for precision approaches (ILS or PAR/GCA).
2. The respective threshold elevation for instrument approaches (non-precision approaches) when the mentioned threshold has an elevation of two metres less than the aerodrome elevation, or below.
3. The aerodrome elevation in any other cases.