Definition
QFE is an altimeter setting based on the actual atmospheric pressure at a specific airfield's elevation. When the altimeter is set to QFE, it reads zero feet when the aircraft is on the ground at that airfield, and it indicates height above that airfield's elevation while in flight. QFE is used in some countries (notably parts of Europe, Russia, and China) for departures, approaches, and landings, particularly below the transition altitude.
Plain English
A way of setting the altimeter so that it shows your height above the airport rather than your height above sea level. With QFE set, the altimeter reads zero on the runway.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument procedure discussions and in countries or procedures that use height above the airport instead of altitude above sea level.
Derivation
QFE comes from the international Q-code system, a set of three-letter codes beginning with Q that were developed for radio communication. The letters themselves don't stand for words — they're just code identifiers. QFE specifically refers to field elevation pressure. Knowing it's a code, not an acronym, prevents the trap of trying to decode the letters.
Why Pilots Care
Provides accurate height above the runway for safe operations during takeoff, approach, and landing.
Analogy
It is like resetting a ruler so zero starts at the runway instead of at sea level. The numbers then show height above that runway reference.
Grounding Statement
With QFE set, your altimeter is essentially a height-above-the-runway gauge: zero on the ground, and reading directly how high you are above that specific airfield in flight.
Intuition Check
Do not assume QFE is just another name for the normal altimeter setting. QFE shows height above a local ground reference; the usual sea-level-based setting shows altitude above mean sea level.
Example Sentence 1
Approaching the destination airfield in Russia, the controller passed QFE 0995, and the crew set it on the standby altimeter so it would read zero on touchdown.
Example Sentence 2
On final approach the altimeter showed 800 feet QFE, confirming height above the runway.