FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Meteorology and Weather ServicesEasy
A pilot copies a METAR reporting sky condition as 'BKN008 OVC015'. According to FAA definitions, what is the reported ceiling at this station?
- AThe average of the two layer heights, or 1,150 feet AGL
- BNo ceiling exists because two separate layers are reported
- C800 feet AGL
- D1,500 feet AGL
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. 800 feet AGL
A ceiling is defined as the height AGL of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC), or the vertical visibility into an obscuration. Since BKN008 is the lowest layer meeting this criterion, the ceiling is 800 feet, regardless of the higher overcast layer.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Ceilings are never averaged between layers.
- B. A ceiling is always defined by the lowest BKN/OVC/VV layer present.
- D. 1,500 feet is the higher overcast layer, not the ceiling.
Ceiling
The height above ground level of the lowest layer of clouds reported as broken or overcast, or the vertical visibility into an indefinite ceiling (obscuration).
- Only BKN, OVC, or VV layers count toward a ceiling
- FEW and SCT layers are never considered ceilings
- Reported in feet AGL, not MSL
Memory trick: 'Broken or Overcast Breaks the sky open' — those are the only layers that count as ceiling