What does 2992 mean?

[Malibu1965]

Hello-

I'm very new to flying. This is probably a silly question, but can someone please tell me what 2992 stands for?

I know that it has to do with altitude. I've read my Flight sim book searching everywhere for the meaning,
but have not found it yet. Also, I've searched these message boards, but still no luck.

Is it some kind of standard code, because everytime I contact  ATC they respond with altitude 2992.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Craig.]

that is your altimeter setting, it gives you the proper altitude below 18'000 feet, and is used by all aircraft to maintain proper altitude seperation, this obviously changes with the weather, but above FL180 it becomes standard 2992
thats a basic thing to it, prob a few mistakes, but i will let someone else give a full explination hope it helps a little

[Scottler]

I'll try to keep this as simple as possible for two reasons.  A)  I'm hardly an expert and B) It can seem a bit confusing.

For starters, you have to understand a little bit about your altimeter.  It's basically nothing more than a barometer, which is used in weather to measure air pressure.  

When ATC gives you an altimeter setting of "2992" (which is pretty standard in FS, but if you fly with Live ATC they don't always use this number), that means that their air pressure (at their location) is at 29.92 millibars.  This gives you an accurate reading at that airport of what you have to set your altimeter to in order for it to read "0000 feet" when you're on the ground there.

Hope this clears up the mystery a little bit.

Good luck flying!

[emh8]

Errrrrrrrrrr.

[Scottler]

LOL excellent point.  Nothing but a mere typo.  (Plus I'm at work, so I have to rush through these non-work-related issues.)  

I really need to find a job where my primary task is to fly flight sim. lol

[OTTOL]

I sure hope EMH8 isn't flying a real airplane. I fly a jet all over the world, and have experienced a "standard" day (pressure 29.92), quite frequently, and my head is still intact. Maybe I should start wearing a helmet!
All of you, so far, have missed the mark. "Pressure Altitude" is the indication on your altimeter when the Colesman window is set to indicate 29.92". Standard pressure is 29.92 inches of mercury or QNH (quasi-monohydrostatic) 1013.2 millibars. The reason I mention QNH is not to impress you with my wisdom, but because it often clarifies a simple issue with students transitioning into the U.S. system and it's terminology.        
I think, to answer the root question though, with your airplane sitting on the runway of whatever airport you choose, set the altimeter to indicate the known elevation of that particular airport. The indication in the Colesman window(the little tiny window in the face of the altimeter) is the correct altimeter setting.

[Craig.]

basically press B and it'll automatically set it:)

[Scottler]

Okay, okay, okay....one at a time:

"I fly a jet all over the world, and have experienced a "standard" day (pressure 29.92), quite frequently, and my head is still intact. Maybe I should start wearing a helmet!  "

He wasn't saying that 29.92 can't happen.  He was saying that I mis-spoke when I said that 29.92 means 29.92 millibars.  (And he was correct!)

"I think, to answer the root question though, with your airplane sitting on the runway of whatever airport you choose, set the altimeter to indicate the known elevation of that particular airport. "


That sounds an awful lot like my answer of:

"When ATC gives you an altimeter setting of "2992"...This gives you an accurate reading at that airport of what you have to set your altimeter to in order for it to read "0000 feet" when you're on the ground there. "

yep...I'm way off.

[Rifleman]

Since everyone is not really giving you a proper explanation of what 29.92 inches of mercury is, here is a little GIF to show how this number is measured and achieved.........

And now that we know this, we can calibrate every Altimeter all over the world, using this number as a reference for Sea Level.........

[Scottler]

Rifleman, do I even want to know why you've got that so easily accessible?  :::grin:::

[emh8]

Scott,

If you really want to slam somebody in this forum, I strongly suggest using the "insert quote" function in the toolbar.  I have found that it works wonders.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to my barometer and watch the QNH drop toward the bottom as a storm approaches.   No way is this going to be a "standard day."

Erik

[Rifleman]

Any question deserves the beginning of the information hwy before you try to start a trip in the middle.....I can usually find stuff on here.......

[OTTOL]

Hey Hyperion if my altimeter read "0000" in Aspen, would that be bad?     Oh yeah, in my zeal to impress you all I got one part wrong: It's quasi NONhydrostatic ......thought I better fix that before the crosshairs were on me again. My apologies to EMH8 my aviation knowledge is good, but attention to basic detail obviously needs some work.

[emh8]

Otto,

No worries!  Welcome to the forum..............

Erik

[Lethal.Ambition]

Aspen Colorado right?.............either im right or i forgot my states capitals again or thats not a state capital. Anyways, if its the mountain, then its definitely wrong. very wrong. OOOO ft would most likely be in Florida or something. have you noticed how when you update your altimeter, if its a big change then the screen starts shifting and if your on AP the AP starts fixing to the new altitude? cool huh?