Light Transport
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Procedure
During the UMBEG arrival we requested QNH altimeter settings in HPA. The controller gave us 1004 HPA. As we proceeded we were handed off to another controller that gave us another altimeter setting of 2981 HPA. I responded to the non-flying pilot that cannot be correct. He then questioned the controller of the 2981 HPA and the controller said once again 2981 HPA. Because of his broken English; I went back to the last know altimeter setting of 1004 HPA. As we approached ODABI intersection at 600m the controller said to climb to 600m; we responded 'we are at 600m. The weather was VFR and proceeded to intercept the final approach course and landed.After we landed; we reviewed what has taken place and concluded the following:1. Below the transition altitude for this arrival we requested QNH in HPA.2. The 1st controller gave of QNH in HPA.3. The 2nd controller changed it to QFE.4. The difference between the two altitude settings cause our discrepancy of about 500'.5. We dialed in 981 HPA on our altimeter at in showed 0 feet. The controller was trying to tell us 981 HPA versus 2981 HPA.Conclusion; If we could have not been requested to change our altimeter setting to QFE during the approach and maintained the previous controller setting we could prevented this occurrence.
Captain reported receiving an incorrect altimeter setting from Approach Control and elected to remain on QNE for the visual approach. The Controller meant to say 981 HPA for QFE; but kept stating 2981 HPA.