Narrative:

On approach to runway 14 zurich, switzerland, cleared to maintain 4000 ft and cleared for the ILS runway 14 approach. Controller expressed concern with our altitude at about the same time as a terrain alert occurred on GPWS. We were on top of an overcast layer, clearly not in any danger of a collision with terrain as no terrain was visible above the overcast layer and we were in level flight. I asked the controller to confirm the altimeter setting of 29.91 in hg. She stated the altimeter was 991 MB. The relief pilot had copied the ATIS altimeter as 29.92 setting us up to hear 299X. There clearly was no reason to go around as the correct altimeter setting was in, we were reclred for the approach and 900 ft above the closest terrain at our actual altitude of 3400 ft. In the future, we need to ensure we listen for the altimeter setting in MB in europe and not let our ears lead us to the wrong setting of 299X in hg because 99X MB sounds like what we're used to hearing. And the controller should listen carefully to the readback by crews based in countries that use 'inches hg' as their primary altimeter setting reference, especially when the altimeter setting is 99X MB.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR IN THE EUROPEAN OP SET AN ALTIMETER TO INCHES OF MERCURY INSTEAD OF HECTOPASCALS WHEN BELOW THE TRANSITION LEVEL. THE GPWAS WENT OFF BECAUSE OF LOW ACTUAL ALT.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 14 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, CLRED TO MAINTAIN 4000 FT AND CLRED FOR THE ILS RWY 14 APCH. CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH OUR ALT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS A TERRAIN ALERT OCCURRED ON GPWS. WE WERE ON TOP OF AN OVCST LAYER, CLRLY NOT IN ANY DANGER OF A COLLISION WITH TERRAIN AS NO TERRAIN WAS VISIBLE ABOVE THE OVCST LAYER AND WE WERE IN LEVEL FLT. I ASKED THE CTLR TO CONFIRM THE ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.91 IN HG. SHE STATED THE ALTIMETER WAS 991 MB. THE RELIEF PLT HAD COPIED THE ATIS ALTIMETER AS 29.92 SETTING US UP TO HEAR 299X. THERE CLRLY WAS NO REASON TO GO AROUND AS THE CORRECT ALTIMETER SETTING WAS IN, WE WERE RECLRED FOR THE APCH AND 900 FT ABOVE THE CLOSEST TERRAIN AT OUR ACTUAL ALT OF 3400 FT. IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO ENSURE WE LISTEN FOR THE ALTIMETER SETTING IN MB IN EUROPE AND NOT LET OUR EARS LEAD US TO THE WRONG SETTING OF 299X IN HG BECAUSE 99X MB SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE'RE USED TO HEARING. AND THE CTLR SHOULD LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE READBACK BY CREWS BASED IN COUNTRIES THAT USE 'INCHES HG' AS THEIR PRIMARY ALTIMETER SETTING REF, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE ALTIMETER SETTING IS 99X MB.

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.