FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR)Weather Theory and ServicesEasy
A METAR for KDEF reports: SCT025 BKN040 OVC080. What is the reported ceiling at this airport?
- AThere is no ceiling because a scattered layer is present
- B8,000 feet AGL
- C2,500 feet AGL
- D4,000 feet AGL
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. 4,000 feet AGL
A ceiling is defined as the height of the lowest broken or overcast layer, or vertical visibility into an obscuration. Scattered layers are not considered ceilings, so the lowest qualifying layer here is the broken layer at 4,000 feet.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A scattered layer does not prevent a ceiling from being reported if a broken or overcast layer exists above it.
- B. 8,000 feet is the overcast layer, but it is not the lowest qualifying layer.
- C. 2,500 feet is a scattered layer, which does not count as a ceiling.
Ceiling Definition
The ceiling is the height above ground of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility into an obscuring phenomenon.
- Scattered (SCT) layers never count as a ceiling
- Broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC) layers define the ceiling
- Use the lowest BKN/OVC layer when multiple layers are reported
Memory trick: 'Scattered Skies Show No Ceiling' — only Broken/Overcast count.