Q-Codes, Abbreviations & DefinitionsRadio Telephony — DGCA CPL practice questions
Question 1 of 15
With QNH set, the altimeter reads:
All 15 questions — Q-Codes, Abbreviations & Definitions
Radio Telephony · DGCA CPL. The correct option is marked on each.
Q1. With QNH set, the altimeter reads:
- A.Altitude above mean sea level✓
- B.Height above the aerodrome
- C.Flight level
- D.Zero on the runway
Why: ltitude above mean sea level. QNH → altitude (AMSL); on the ground it reads the aerodrome elevation.
Q2. With QFE set, on the runway the altimeter reads:
- A.The aerodrome elevation
- B.Zero✓
- C.1013 hPa
- D.The flight level
Why: QFE is the aerodrome datum pressure, so it reads height above it — zero on the field.
Q3. The standard pressure setting QNE is:
- A.1003.2 hPa
- B.1013.2 hPa (29.92 inHg)✓
- C.1023.2 hPa
- D.760 hPa
Why: QNE = 1013.2 hPa / 29.92 inHg — used for flight levels.
Q4. Approximately how much does 1 hPa correspond to in altitude near sea level?
- A.2.7 ft
- B.27 ft✓
- C.270 ft
- D.1 ft
Why: ≈ 1 hPa per 27 ft near sea level — a 10 hPa error ≈ 270 ft.
Q5. You set 993 hPa when the QNH is 1013 hPa. The altimeter will:
- A.Read correctly
- B.Under-read (show you lower than you are)
- C.Over-read (show you higher than you are — you are lower)✓
- D.Read zero
Why: Setting too low a value over-reads: "High to Low, look out below" — you are about 540 ft lower than indicated.
Q6. QFF differs from QNH in that QFF is:
- A.The aerodrome pressure
- B.The true MSL pressure (meteorological), not normally flown✓
- C.The standard 1013 setting
- D.A bearing
Why: QFF gives the true sea-level pressure for met charts; QNH (using ISA) makes the altimeter read field elevation.
Q7. When climbing, you set 1013 hPa (standard) on passing the:
- A.Transition level
- B.Transition altitude✓
- C.Transition layer top
- D.Aerodrome elevation
Why: Climb → standard at the transition ALTITUDE; descend → QNH at the transition LEVEL.
Q8. If QDM is 090°, the corresponding QDR is:
- A.090°
- B.180°
- C.270°✓
- D.000°
Why: QDR = QDM ± 180°, so 090° → 270°.
Q9. QDM 100° with variation 6° East gives a true bearing to the station (QUJ) of:
- A.094°
- B.106°✓
- C.100°
- D.286°
Why: Variation East → True = Magnetic + Variation = 100 + 6 = 106°. ("Variation East, magnetic least.")
Q10. QGH describes a:
- A.Pressure setting
- B.Controlled descent through cloud using DF bearings✓
- C.Met report request
- D.True bearing
Why: ontrolled descent through cloud using DF bearings. QGH — a DF let-down / controlled descent through cloud on ground-station bearings.
Q11. "Altitude" is measured from:
- A.The aerodrome
- B.Mean sea level✓
- C.The 1013.2 datum
- D.The terrain below
Why: Altitude = vertical distance from mean sea level (QNH). Height is from a specified datum (QFE).
Q12. A flight level is referenced to:
- A.The local QNH
- B.The aerodrome QFE
- C.The standard pressure 1013.2 hPa✓
- D.True sea-level pressure (QFF)
Why: Flight levels are surfaces of constant pressure referenced to 1013.2 hPa (QNE).
Q13. "Elevation" applies to:
- A.An aircraft in flight
- B.A point on or affixed to the surface, above MSL✓
- C.A pressure setting
- D.A radio bearing
Why: point on or affixed to the surface, above MSL. Elevation is the height of a surface point above MSL (e.g. aerodrome elevation).
Q14. A Q-code can function as:
- A.Only a question
- B.Only an answer
- C.Either a question or an answer, depending on context✓
- D.A frequency
Why: The same three-letter code serves as the question and its reply.
Q15. Descending, you change from 1013 to QNH on passing the:
- A.Transition altitude
- B.Transition level✓
- C.Aerodrome elevation
- D.Middle marker
Why: Descend → QNH at the transition LEVEL; climb → standard at the transition ALTITUDE.