An emb-145 captain reports obtaining an incorrect altimeter setting for ord via ACARS; resulting in ...

Narrative:

While descending into ord we were assigned altitude of 12;000 feet. We leveled off at 12;000 feet with our altimeter set at 30.21 which is what the ATIS info from our ACARS showed for ord. When level ATC inquired as to our assigned altitude which we relayed was 12;000 feet then asked for our current altitude which showed 12;000 feet. ATC then informed us that our altitude was 11;400 feet and we asked what the ord altimeter setting was and they then informed us it was 29.52. We reset our altimeters and climbed back up to an indicated 12;000 feet. We told them that ATIS showed 30.21 and ATC said that the ACARS ATIS was inoperative. There was no NOTAM for ACARS ATIS being out of service and ATC did not inform us either.the event occurred due to the ACARS ATIS not working correctly with no NOTAMS or no notice from ATC. NOTAM the ACARS ATIS or have the ACARS ATIS have a digital ATIS not available message.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMB-145 Captain reports obtaining an incorrect altimeter setting for ORD via ACARS; resulting in a 600 foot altitude error. ATC detects the error and issues the correct altimeter setting; stating that ATIS is out of service.

Narrative: While descending into ORD we were assigned altitude of 12;000 feet. We leveled off at 12;000 feet with our altimeter set at 30.21 which is what the ATIS info from our ACARS showed for ORD. When level ATC inquired as to our assigned altitude which we relayed was 12;000 feet then asked for our current altitude which showed 12;000 feet. ATC then informed us that our altitude was 11;400 feet and we asked what the ORD altimeter setting was and they then informed us it was 29.52. We reset our altimeters and climbed back up to an indicated 12;000 feet. We told them that ATIS showed 30.21 and ATC said that the ACARS ATIS was inoperative. There was no NOTAM for ACARS ATIS being out of service and ATC did not inform us either.The event occurred due to the ACARS ATIS not working correctly with no NOTAMS or no notice from ATC. NOTAM the ACARS ATIS or have the ACARS ATIS have a digital ATIS not available message.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1256108
Time
Date	201504
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ORD.Airport
State Reference	IL
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Altimeter
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Overshoot Deviation - Procedural Clearance

An emb-145 captain reports obtaining an incorrect altimeter setting for ord via ACARS; resulting in a 600 foot altitude error. ATC detects the error and issues the correct altimeter setting; stating that ATIS is out of service.