Narrative:

The departure clearance included 'climb via the ivanovskoye 1D (um 1D) SID except maintain 900 meters'. Crew briefed the use of qnh for departure and noted that 900 meters was 3640 ft qnh. 3600 ft was set in the altitude window along with LNAV. After takeoff; the fp (flying pilot) climbed to 3600 ft but noted that the metric altitude altimeter function was also selected and displayed on the left pfd. The pm (pilot monitoring) noted the 1100 meter indication and set the altitude preselect to 3000 ft and I; the flying pilot; was momentarily confused and started a descent using vertical speed of approximately 200 ft/min. Before we could descend to the incorrect altitude of 3000 ft (which would have been about correct for 900 meters QFE; we received normal; further climb instructions.this was an interesting human factors event because the last time I flew into moscow; QFE was the standard altimetry in use so all of my previous experience was in QFE in this location. Since russia is switching to qnh ops; issuing climb altitudes in meters can cause pilots that usually fly with feet to second guess the clearance; even though the 'altitude/height conversion' table is readily displayed on jeppesen charts. This subtle communications issue; coupled with fatigue and other operations such as dealing with tight slot times; de-icing/anti-icing; and flight planning due to destination weather below forecast minimums (as was the case in this operation) all contributed to this momentary altitude deviation. ATC did not note the deviation and no separation issues occurred as a result of this event.summarypilots operating in QFE/qnh environments should not use the metric altitude feature of advanced cockpit avionics if conducting qnh operations due to the conflicting data displayed; in this case QFE meters is 1100 which corresponded to 900 meters QFE (field elevation at uuww is 686 ft MSL). Contributing factors in this event included fatigue; recency of operations in QFE/qnh airspace; and the departure altitude clearance limit being conveyed in QFE meters when moscow and other large cities in russia have reportedly switched to qnh ops.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: G650 First Officer reported confusion regarding altitude assignment related to QFE/QNH procedures departing UUWW.

Narrative: The departure clearance included 'climb via the Ivanovskoye 1D (UM 1D) SID except maintain 900 Meters'. Crew briefed the use of QNH for departure and noted that 900 Meters was 3640 ft QNH. 3600 ft was set in the altitude window along with LNAV. After takeoff; the FP (Flying Pilot) climbed to 3600 ft but noted that the Metric Altitude altimeter function was also selected and displayed on the left PFD. The PM (Pilot Monitoring) noted the 1100 meter indication and set the Altitude preselect to 3000 ft and I; the flying pilot; was momentarily confused and started a descent using vertical speed of approximately 200 ft/min. Before we could descend to the incorrect altitude of 3000 ft (which would have been about correct for 900 meters QFE; we received normal; further climb instructions.This was an interesting human factors event because the last time I flew into Moscow; QFE was the standard altimetry in use so all of my previous experience was in QFE in this location. Since Russia is switching to QNH ops; issuing climb altitudes in meters can cause pilots that usually fly with feet to second guess the clearance; even though the 'ALT/HEIGHT CONVERSION' table is readily displayed on Jeppesen charts. This subtle communications issue; coupled with fatigue and other operations such as dealing with tight slot times; de-icing/anti-icing; and flight planning due to destination weather below forecast minimums (as was the case in this operation) all contributed to this momentary altitude deviation. ATC did not note the deviation and no separation issues occurred as a result of this event.SummaryPilots operating in QFE/QNH environments should not use the metric altitude feature of advanced cockpit avionics if conducting QNH operations due to the conflicting data displayed; in this case QFE meters is 1100 which corresponded to 900 Meters QFE (field elevation at UUWW is 686 ft MSL). Contributing factors in this event included fatigue; recency of operations in QFE/QNH airspace; and the departure altitude clearance limit being conveyed in QFE Meters when Moscow and other large cities in Russia have reportedly switched to QNH ops.

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.