QFE

QFE, or Quantitative Feedback Effect, refers to the change in an aircraft’s altitude or pressure reading caused by the aircraft’s own presence and operation. When an aircraft interacts with its environment, especially in its pressure systems or sensors, it can slightly alter the measurements, making them different from the true environmental values. Understanding QFE helps pilots and engineers account for these effects, ensuring accurate altitude readings during operations like landing or navigation. Essentially, QFE ensures that pressure-based altitude measurements are correctly calibrated to reflect the actual height relative to a specific reference point, such as an airfield’s runway elevation.