Do you have to read back altimeter setting once handed off to a new controller?

Jacob Wall

Jacob Wall

Well-Known Member
Hi,

Are you required to read back the altimeter setting once you change frequencies, say from approach to center? Usually I click twice as my way to keep the airwaves clear but I have had some ask that I have received it and others not. Is it required or just controller preference? If you're a controller, do you want us to read it back or is it only preferred if there is little activity?
 
Read it back please. It doesn't take long to say on frequency and I could think of several situations where the controller could get into hot water if you don't if something goes bad on down the line.
 
it's not required and as my personal preference I don't care unless your more than .3 off (300 feet). Cleveland Center sectors are so small your hardly on a controllers frequency before getting another altimeter from another sector or approach control, in case you misunderstood the previous altimeter.
 
genot said:
Read it back please. It doesn't take long to say on frequency and I could think of several situations where the controller could get into hot water if you don't if something goes bad on down the line.
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I don't believe the controller is at all responsible considering it isn't a clearance. If a deviation occured, it would be on the pilot and to deviate because of altimeter setting is pretty tough considering I don't recall a sector ever changing more than .1" (100') from another sector.
 
A "roger" would be nice. Just to assure the controller that you can hear them on initial contact.

Not saying anything back doesn't specifically concern me, but if you're totally silent or just click the mic, I don't know whether or not you heard me.
 
FM_Weasel said:
A "roger" would be nice. Just to assure the controller that you can hear them on initial contact.

Not saying anything back doesn't specifically concern me, but if you're totally silent or just click the mic, I don't know whether or not you heard me.
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Yes I meant to add, I'll usually throw back my callsign. Reading back entire alt settings when you're flipping through freqs every 10 mins gets very old very fast.
 
I'm saying this from the perspective of an approach guy. If I'm giving you the altimeter, you're likely a VFR or IFR pop up from a non towered airport. Its not like you've been flying for 1,000 miles. They can charge me with an error for replying "I'll miss the Boeing" as opposed to a full visual separation readback, so I'm pretty sure they can find something to nail me with for no altimeter readback. Granted I'll know what you received it, you'll have received the altimeter, but the reviewers get to make their own interpretations if something goes wrong.

Granted, I'm an emergency magnet, so it can tend to make one more paranoid than most.
 
genot said:
I'm saying this from the perspective of an approach guy. If I'm giving you the altimeter, you're likely a VFR or IFR pop up from a non towered airport. Its not like you've been flying for 1,000 miles. They can charge me with an error for replying "I'll miss the Boeing" as opposed to a full visual separation readback, so I'm pretty sure they can find something to nail me with for no altimeter readback. Granted I'll know what you received it, you'll have received the altimeter, but the reviewers get to make their own interpretations if something goes wrong.

Granted, I'm an emergency magnet, so it can tend to make one more paranoid than most.
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Every approach control I've talked to will read me the altimeter, even if I advise them that I have the ATIS. I don't read it back though, unless it differs from what the ATIS gave me.
 
genot said:
I'm saying this from the perspective of an approach guy. If I'm giving you the altimeter, you're likely a VFR or IFR pop up from a non towered airport. Its not like you've been flying for 1,000 miles.
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That's a very good point. If it's my first interaction with ATC I'll read it back to make sure that we're all on the the same page.

I just find it funny when some guys I fly with get super paranoid about .01" yet our altimeters rarely read within 100' of each other when we're in the air on the same setting.
 
crazyjaydawg said:
I don't recall a sector ever changing more than .1" (100') from another sector.
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My sectors I've seen it happen, then again my airspace is so large my area is bigger the the entire whole of Chicago center. On topic, I could care less if a fellow reads back the altimeter. In fact about 35% of the time I don't get a read back when I issue it.
 
I try to keep it short and simple when they say it. I've heard several pilots read it back, "Two Niner Niner two, Dot Com 5024." So I generally follow the same preface when checking on with a new controller when they decide to give me the altimeter setting. I just say the number and my call sign.
 
It seems to be location dependent. Some places they get pissy if you read back the sqauwk code instead of just putting it in and shutting up.
 
I agree with them. On initial contact a roger is nice.

If I have a plane that busts their altitude, I give the altimeter to them again. That is usually enough to make them notice.

About three weeks ago there was a three to four hundred foot difference between our facility and the adjacent facility with the altimeter.
 
Frickin primacy. I was taught on day one of flying 12 years ago to read back altimeter settings. Apparently it's out of fashion now?
 
Is an IDENT or imputing a sqawk code considered acknowledgment? When requested of course....or is a radio xmission necessary?

Seems to be about 50/50 on controllers asking you to readback or at least verbally acknowledge.
 
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