Narrative:

Flight was very short (1 hour) compared to our normal 6-10 hour flts. Flight had no cargo compared to our normal 200000 pounds and very little gas (40000 pounds) compared to normal 180000-220000 pounds. The cockpit crew persons were all new to seat position. Climbing to FL230 was very fast, rate of climb 4000-5000 FPM. Although transition level (in this country) was 4000 ft, we missed it and leveled off 700 ft low (very high qnh, 10.41). We were asked by the controller if we were still climbing. We realized the error and stated 'yes, we are still climbing' and thanked the controller. Outside the united states, each country has a different transition altitude (tie to landing lights? To remember?). The fast climb, complex departure and young crew to aircraft all added up to help us forget this item. We have an after takeoff checklist, but transition altitude is not on it. We do have an approach checklist with 1 item -- transition altitude. No leveloff checklist -- maybe I'll do a mental leveloff checklist and transition altitude will be the first item!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR B747-200 FREIGHTER CREW LEVELED OFF LOW. THEY HAD FORGOTTEN TO RESET THEIR ALTIMETERS TO QNE GOING THROUGH THE TRANSITION ALT.

Narrative: FLT WAS VERY SHORT (1 HR) COMPARED TO OUR NORMAL 6-10 HR FLTS. FLT HAD NO CARGO COMPARED TO OUR NORMAL 200000 LBS AND VERY LITTLE GAS (40000 LBS) COMPARED TO NORMAL 180000-220000 LBS. THE COCKPIT CREW PERSONS WERE ALL NEW TO SEAT POS. CLBING TO FL230 WAS VERY FAST, RATE OF CLB 4000-5000 FPM. ALTHOUGH TRANSITION LEVEL (IN THIS COUNTRY) WAS 4000 FT, WE MISSED IT AND LEVELED OFF 700 FT LOW (VERY HIGH QNH, 10.41). WE WERE ASKED BY THE CTLR IF WE WERE STILL CLBING. WE REALIZED THE ERROR AND STATED 'YES, WE ARE STILL CLBING' AND THANKED THE CTLR. OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, EACH COUNTRY HAS A DIFFERENT TRANSITION ALT (TIE TO LNDG LIGHTS? TO REMEMBER?). THE FAST CLB, COMPLEX DEP AND YOUNG CREW TO ACFT ALL ADDED UP TO HELP US FORGET THIS ITEM. WE HAVE AN AFTER TKOF CHKLIST, BUT TRANSITION ALT IS NOT ON IT. WE DO HAVE AN APCH CHKLIST WITH 1 ITEM -- TRANSITION ALT. NO LEVELOFF CHKLIST -- MAYBE I'LL DO A MENTAL LEVELOFF CHKLIST AND TRANSITION ALT WILL BE THE FIRST ITEM!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.