FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)Aerodynamics and PerformanceEasy
A pilot is briefed that an airplane's service ceiling has been reached during a performance climb test. By FAA definition, the service ceiling is the altitude at which the airplane's maximum rate of climb has decreased to:
- A500 feet per minute
- B100 feet per minute
- C0 feet per minute
- D300 feet per minute
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 100 feet per minute
Service ceiling is defined as the altitude where the maximum rate of climb decreases to 100 feet per minute. This differs from absolute ceiling, where climb rate reaches zero.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. 500 fpm is not the standard definition used for service ceiling.
- C. 0 fpm defines absolute ceiling, not service ceiling.
- D. 300 fpm is not the FAA definition for service ceiling.
Service Ceiling
The altitude at which an airplane's maximum rate of climb decreases to 100 feet per minute.
- Absolute ceiling = altitude where climb rate is 0 fpm.
- Service ceiling is a practical operational limit above which climb performance is minimal.
- Both ceilings decrease with weight increase and temperature increase.
Memory trick: Service stops at 1-0-0, Absolute stops at zero.