Service ceiling

Definitions

• The maximum density altitude where the best rate-of-climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet-per-minute climb at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power.
• The highest altitude at which an aircraft can maintain a steady rate of climb of 100 feet per minute.

References

• Airplane Flying Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration, 2021
• Weight and Balance Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration, 2016