In aviation, how is "ceiling" defined?

The definition of "ceiling" in aviation is established by the lowest broken or overcast cloud layer or the vertical visibility into an obscuration. When flying, pilots need to be aware of the ceiling as it affects both visibility and overall flight safety. A broken layer of clouds indicates that there are significant portions of the sky that are obscured, which can impact navigation and aircraft operations, while overcast refers to a layer that completely covers the sky.

Vertical visibility into an obscuration is also part of this definition, as it provides crucial information for pilots navigating through conditions like fog or rain that may obscure the view of the horizon or higher cloud layers. This is important because it informs pilots whether they are able to maintain visual flight rules (VFR) or whether they must switch to instrument flight rules (IFR).

The other definitions do not accurately capture the complete scope of what constitutes ceiling in aviation. Therefore, the correct interpretation of ceiling aligns closely with how it is understood in regulations and operational practice in the industry.