ENR 1.7 - ALTIMETER SETTING PROCEDURES

1.7.1 Introduction

 

The altimeter setting procedures in use generally conform to those contained in ICAO Doc 8168, Vol. I, Part 6 and are given in full below. Differences are shown in quotation marks.

 

Transition altitudes for all aerodromes are given on the instrument approach charts.

 

QNH reports and temperature information for use in determining adequate terrain clearance are provided in MET broadcasts and are available on request from the air traffic services units. QNH values are given in hectopascals.

 

 

1.7.2 Basic altimeter setting procedures

 

General

 

1. The transition altitudes in the Curacao FIR are for operational purposes 2500 ft.

 

For St. Maarten and St. Eustatius the transition altitude in the Juliana TMA is

5000 ft.

 

The following transition levels apply for the Airports in the Dutch Caribbean

territory:

Aeropuerto Hato FL 40

Flamingo Beatrix Airport FL 40

Princess Juliana Flamingo Airport FL 6540

F.D. Roosevelt Princess Juliana Airport FL 65

F.D. Roosevelt Airport FL 65

 

2. Vertical positioning of aircraft when at or below the transition altitude is expressed

in Terms of altitude, whereas such positioning at or above the transition level is

expressed in terms of flight levels. While passing through the transition layer,

vertical positioning is expressed in terms of altitude when descending and in terms

of flight levels when ascending.

 

3. Flight level zero is located at the atmospheric pressure level of 1 013.2 hPa

(29.92 in). Consecutive flight levels are separated by a pressure interval

corresponding to 500 ft (152.4 m) in the standard atmosphere.

 

Note.- Examples of the relationship between flight levels and altimeter indications

are given in the following table, the metric equivalents being approximate:

Flight level

Altimeter indicatior

number

Feet

Metres

10

1 000

300

15

1 500

450

50

5 000

1 500

100

10 000

3 050

150

15 000

4 550

200

20 000

6 100

1.7.3 Take-off and climb

 

A QNH altimeter setting is made available to aircraft in taxi clearance prior to takeoff.

 

Vertical positioning of aircraft during climb is expressed in terms of altitudes until reaching the transition altitude above which vertical positioning is expressed in terms of flight levels.

 

1.7.4 Vertical separation - en route

 

Vertical separation during en-route flight shall be expressed in terms of flight levels at all times during an IFR flight and at night.

 

IFR flights, and VFR flights above 900 m (3 000 ft), when in level cruising flight, shall be flown at such flight levels, corresponding to the magnetic tracks shown in the following table, so as to provide the required terrain clearance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flight

level

number

000°-179°

 

180°-359°

IFR

VFR

 

IFR

VFR

10

 

 

20

 

30

35

 

40

45

50

55

 

60

65

70

75

 

80

85

90

95

 

100

105

....

etc.

 

....

etc.

270

 

 

280

 

290

 

 

300

 

310

 

 

320

 

330

 

 

340

 

350

 

 

360

 

370

 

 

380

 

....

etc.

 

....

etc.

Note.- Some of the lower levels in the above table may not be usable due to terrain clearance requirements.

 

 

 

1.7.5 Approach and landing

 

1.7.5.1 QNH

 

A QNH altimeter setting is made available in approach clearance and in clearance to enter the traffic circuit.

 

1.7.5.2 QFE

 

QFE altimeter settings are available (excluding Saba).

 

1.7.5.1 Vertical positioning of aircraft during approach

 

Vertical positioning of aircraft during approach is controlled by reference to flight levels until reaching the transition level below which vertical positioning is controlled by reference to altitudes.

 

1.7.6 Missed approach

 

The relevant portions of 2.1.2, 3 and 5 shall be applied in the event of a missed approach.

 

 

1.7.7 Procedures applicable to operators (including pilots)

 

Flight planning

 

The levels at which a flight is to be conducted shall be specified in a flight plan

 

a) in terms of flight levels if the flight is to be conducted at or above the transition level, and

 

b) in terms of altitudes if the flight is to be conducted in the vicinity of an aerodrome

and at or below the transition altitude.

 

Note 1.- Short flights in the vicinity of an aerodrome may often be conducted only at altitudes below the transition altitude.

Note 2.- Flight levels are specified in a plan by number and not in terms of feet or metres as is the case with altitudes.

 

1.7.8 Tables of cruising levels

 

The cruising levels to be observed when so required are as follows:

 

a) in areas where, on the basis of regional air navigation agreement and in accordance

with conditions specified therein, a vertical separation minimum (VSM) of 300 m

(1000 ft) is applied between FL 290 and FL 410 inclusive:*

TRACK**

 

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

-90

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

10

300

1 000

 

 

 

20

600

2 000

 

 

 

30

900

3 000

35

1 050

3 500

40

1 200

4 000

45

1 350

4 500

50

1 500

5 000

55

1 700

5 500

60

1 850

6 000

65

2 000

6 500

70

2 150

7 000

75

2 300

7 500

80

2 450

8 000

85

2 260

8 500

90

2 750

9 000

95

2 900

9 500

100

3 050

10 000

105

3 200

10 500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110

3 350

11 000

115

3 500

11 500

120

3 650

12 000

125

3 800

12 500

130

3 950

13 000

135

4 100

13 500

140

4 250

14 000

145

4 400

14 500

150

4 550

15 000

155

4 700

15 500

160

4 900

16 000

165

5 050

16 500

170

5 200

17 000

175

5 350

17 500

180

5 500

18 000

185

5 650

18 500

190

5 800

19 000

195

5 950

19 500

200

6 100

20 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRACK**

 

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

210

6 400

21 000

 

 

 

220

6 700

22 000

 

 

 

230

7 000

23 000

 

 

 

240

7 300

24 000

 

 

 

250

7 600

25 000

 

 

 

260

7 900

26 000

 

 

 

270

8 250

27 000

 

 

 

280

8 550

28 000

 

 

 

290

8 850

29 000

 

 

 

300

9 150

30 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

310

9 450

31 000

 

 

 

320

9 750

32 000

 

 

 

330

10 050

33 000

 

 

 

340

10 350

34 000

 

 

 

350

10 650

35 000

 

 

 

360

10 950

36 000

 

 

 

370

11 300

37 000

 

 

 

380

11 600

38 000

 

 

 

390

11 900

39 000

 

 

 

400

12 200

40 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

410

12 500

41 000

 

 

 

430

13 100

43 000

 

 

 

450

13 700

45 000

 

 

 

470

14 350

47 000

 

 

 

490

14 950

49 000

 

 

 

510

15 550

51 000

 

 

 

etc.

etc.

etc.

 

 

 

etc.

etc.

etc.

 

 

 

* Except when, on the basis of regional air navigation agreements, a modified table of cruising levels based on a nominal vertical

separation minimum of 300 m (1 000 ft) is prescribed for use, under specified conditions, by aircraft operating above FL 410 within

designated portions of the airspace.

** Magnetic track, or in polar areas at latitudes higher than 70 degrees and within such extensions to those areas as may be prescribed

by the appropriate ATS authorities, grid tracks as determined by a network of lines parallel to the Greenwich Meridian superimposed

on a polar stereographic chart in which the direction towards the North Pole is employed as the Grid North

 

 

 

 

 

 

b) in other areas:

TRACK*

 

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

-90

 

 

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

10

300

1 000

 

 

 

20

600

2 000

 

 

 

30

900

3 000

35

1 050

3 500

40

1 200

4 000

45

1 350

4 500

50

1 500

5 000

55

1 700

5 500

60

1 850

6 000

65

2 000

6 500

70

2 150

7 000

75

2 300

7 500

80

2 450

8 000

85

2 600

8 500

90

2 750

9 000

95

2 900

9 500

100

3 050

10 000

105

3 200

10 500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

110

3 350

11 000

115

3 500

11 500

120

3 650

12 000

125

3 800

12 500

130

3 950

13 000

135

4 100

13 500

140

4 250

14 000

145

4 400

14 500

150

4 550

15 000

155

4 700

15 500

160

4 900

16 000

165

5 050

16 500

170

5 200

17 000

175

5 350

17 500

180

5 500

18 000

185

5 650

18 500

190

5 800

19 000

195

5 950

19 500

200

6 100

20 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

210

6 400

21 000

 

 

 

220

6 700

22 000

 

 

 

230

7 000

23 000

 

 

 

240

7 300

24 000

 

 

 

250

7 600

25 000

 

 

 

260

7 900

26 000

 

 

 

270

8 250

27 000

 

 

 

280

8 550

28 000

 

 

 

 

TRACK*

 

From 000 degrees to 179 degrees

From 180 degrees to 359 degrees

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

IFR Flights

VFR Flights

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

 

Altitude

 

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

FL

Metres

Feet

290

8 850

29 000

 

 

 

310

9 450

31 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

330

10 050

33 000

 

 

 

350

10 650

35 000

 

 

 

370

11 300

37 000

 

 

 

390

11 900

39 000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

410

12 500

41 000

 

 

 

430

13 100

43 000

 

 

 

450

13 700

45 000

 

 

 

470

14 350

47 000

 

 

 

490

14 950

49 000

 

 

 

510

15 550

51 000

 

 

 

etc.

etc.

etc.

 

 

 

etc.

etc.

etc.

 

 

 

*Magnetic track, or in polar areas at latitudes higher than 70 degrees and within such extensions to those areas as may be

prescribed by the appropriate ATS authorities, grid tracks as determined by a network of lines parallel to the Greenwich Meridian

superimposed on a polar stereographic chart in which the direction towards the North Pole is employed as the Grid North.