Climbing And Descending

Question 1

What is absolute and service ceiling

Answer 1

Absolute - max height above sea level at which a specific aircraft can maintain horizontal flight under standard air conditions or where max rate of climb goers to zero.

Service - the altitude at which the max rate of climb is 100ft/min

Question 2

Explain the factors affecting climb performance (power applied, airspeed, flap and/or undercarriage extension, weight, altitude, temperature, manoeuvring, and wind - in relation to net flight path).

Answer 2

• Power: less PA = poor performance
• Airspeed: faster/slower = poor performance
• Flap/gear: more drag – L/D ratio decreases more PR
• Weight increase: PR increases
• altitude: air density reduces as increased and the PR and PA curve move closer together and climb performance reduces. Gets to the point where they coincide and reach absolute ceiling.
• temperature: any altitude where air temp is higher than the standard figure, performance is reduced due to reduction in air density.
• manoeuvring: will avowed some or all excess power available and climb performance is reduced.
• wind, affects the climb angle over the ground but not the rate of climb.

Headwind will be at the same altitude but travel less over the ground in comparison to no wind or tailwind which will travel further.