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Aviation vocabulary · Aviation Weather

Ceiling

Meaning in aviation, with examples

/ˈsiːlɪŋ/nounCommon term

In aviation, ceiling means: The height above the ground of the lowest layer of cloud that covers more than half of the sky. A low ceiling can make an approach impossible.

In Turkish: bulut tavanı, tavan

How it is used

In weather reports the ceiling is the lowest broken (BKN) or overcast (OVC) layer. Pilots compare it with the approach minimums. The word also means the highest altitude an aircraft can reach: its 'service ceiling'.

Example sentences

  1. The ceiling is 200 feet, which is right at our minimums for this approach.

  2. With a low ceiling and heavy rain, we briefed a possible go-around.

Common collocations

  • low ceiling
  • cloud ceiling
  • service ceiling
  • ceiling and visibility
  • visibilityThe greatest distance at which objects can be clearly seen and identified, reported in metres or kilometres in most countries and in statute miles in the US.
  • METARA routine weather report for an airport, issued every 30 or 60 minutes in a short code: wind, visibility, weather, cloud, temperature and pressure.
  • ILSInstrument landing system: radio signals from the ground that guide an aircraft left-right and up-down to the runway, so it can land in low cloud and poor visibility.
  • approachThe phase of flight after the descent in which an aircraft is guided towards the runway it will land on, usually following a published procedure.

More terms: Aviation Weather

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