Setting QFE on the altimeter instead of QNH causes it to read height above the local field elevation.

• A. Height above the airfield
• B. Altitude above mean sea level
• C. Altitude is unaffected
• D. It shows vertical speed

Answer: (A)

Setting QFE means the altimeter is calibrated so that the reading is zero on the airfield itself. From there, any climb or descent shows how high you are above that field. So, when you’re over the airfield, the instrument reads zero; 1,000 feet above the field reads 1,000 feet, regardless of how high the field sits above sea level. That’s why this setting indicates height above the local field elevation.

If you had set QNH instead, the altimeter would be aligned to mean sea level, and the reading would be your altitude above sea level rather than above the field. The altimeter doesn’t indicate vertical speed, so that choice isn’t correct. And changing the setting from QFE to QNH does change what the instrument shows, so the reading isn’t unchanged.