Which statement about QNH and QFE altimeter settings is true?

• A. QNH indicates altitude above mean sea level; QFE indicates altitude above airport elevation.
• B. QNH is used to set cabin temperature.
• C. QFE indicates altitude above mean sea level.
• D. QNH and QFE are used for weather reports.

Answer: (A)

Understanding altimeter settings is about what reference pressure the instrument uses. Setting QNH uses the pressure at mean sea level as the reference, so the altimeter reads your height above mean sea level. When you’re on the airport, that reading equals the airport’s elevation above MSL. Setting QFE uses the pressure at the airport’s elevation, so the altimeter reads height above the airfield; it would read zero when you’re on the field. So the statement that QNH indicates altitude above mean sea level and QFE indicates altitude above airport elevation is correct. The other options don’t fit: QNH isn’t for cabin temperature, QFE doesn’t indicate altitude above mean sea level, and weather reports typically use the altimeter setting (QNH) rather than both.