B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 7500; Flight Crew Type 300
Situational Awareness
Deviation - Altitude Overshoot; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
On initial climb out of EGLL we departed runway 9R on SID Southampton 3J. Initial altitude given for the SID is 6000 feet 6000 feet was properly set in the MCP. My position in the cockpit was that of the relief pilot. As we climbed out of 5100 feet I reminded the flying pilots the Transition Altitude would be 6000 feet as per the SID. This reminder inadvertently prompted the flying pilots to reset the altimeters before leaving TL6000 resulting in an altitude deviation of 500 feet once leveled off. We were given a climb clearance within 90 seconds after level off with no further altitude deviation. There was no comment from ATC. As we climbed out the crew talked about the discrepancy and later reviewed the standard procedure of waiting to be cleared above TL6000 to reset the altimeter. There was no traffic or safety issue due to the slight deviation.
On takeoff out of EGLL climbing through 4500 feet when cleared to 6000 feet on SID Southampton 3J FO called 'transition altitude is 6000' which prompted flying FO and Myself to reset Altimeters to 29.92 and we leveled at 6000. However; that was incorrect. We do not set 29.92 until cleared to climb above 6000. My FO was on first trip after IOE so I was watching him closely as it was his first flying leg with me and we were engaging VNAV and retracting flaps; I was doing after takeoff checklist and was talking to Departure Control. So with all that going on when IRO made call I didn't think and thought I had failed to set the altimeter properly and automatically reset it. The local altimeter was at 1037 that day so when we reset to 29.92 it was an exceptionally large difference of approximately 500 feet. The controller did not say anything but we would have been off by the 500 feet and he cleared us higher shortly thereafter.
B767 flight crew reports setting QNE too early departing EGLL resulting in a level off at FL060 which is 500 feet above the assigned altitude of 6;000 feet. ATC does not comment.