FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

Which sky conditions are considered a ceiling?

1. Clear, Partly Cloudy

2. Broken, Overcast

3. Scattered, Dusty

4. Flat, Misty

The correct answer is: Broken, Overcast

Ceiling refers to the lowest layer of clouds or obscuring phenomena that covers more than half of the sky, thus impacting visibility and flying conditions. When determining the sky conditions that constitute a ceiling, the focus lies on the terms "broken" and "overcast." In aviation terminology, a "broken" cloud layer means that the cloud cover ranges from 5/8 to 7/8 of the sky. This indicates that there are gaps in the clouds that could allow for some visibility, but the majority of the sky is obscured. An "overcast" condition means that the sky is completely covered by clouds, or 8/8 coverage. In both cases, these conditions directly affect instrumentation and operations for pilots and dispatchers, as they signal reduced visibility and can require specific approaches and landing techniques. The other options, such as "clear" or "partly cloudy," do not constitute a ceiling since they describe conditions where significant portions of the sky are unobstructed. "Scattered" refers to clouds that occupy less than half of the sky, which also does not count as a ceiling. Lastly, terms like "dusty" or "misty" do not describe cloud layers that could create a ceiling, focusing instead