Definition
An altimeter setting obtained from a weather reporting station other than the airport of intended landing, used when the destination airport does not have its own current altimeter source. The procedure chart will specify the authorized remote source and any associated minima adjustments.
Plain English
A current barometric pressure value taken from a nearby airport or weather station, used to set the altimeter when the destination airport itself doesn't report one.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach procedure notes and Baro-VNAV discussions, especially when the airport itself does not have a current local altimeter setting available.
Derivation
Remote' here comes from the Latin 'remotus,' meaning 'distant' or 'set apart.' In this context it simply means the setting is sourced from somewhere other than the airport you're landing at -- a station some distance away.
Why Pilots Care
An inaccurate or missing local setting can produce altitude errors that affect vertical guidance on Baro-VNAV approaches.
Grounding Statement
If the destination airport’s pressure report is unavailable, the procedure may allow a specific nearby station’s pressure setting instead.
Intuition Check
Remote does not mean optional or approximate here. It means the altimeter setting comes from another approved location, and it may be used only when the procedure permits it.
Example Sentence 1
Because the destination had no weather reporting, the crew used the remote altimeter setting from the airport 15 miles north and applied the higher minima shown on the approach plate.
Example Sentence 2
When the remote altimeter setting differed by more than 0.2 inches of mercury, the published minimums were raised.