High Altitude Endorsement

[Sidious]

61.31 states that for "Pressurized aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes"
No person may act as PIC of a pressurized aircraft (an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL)

So a little confusion on the "Whichever is Lower" part.

Lets say that I have an aircraft with a Maximum operating alitude of 26,000 but a service ceiling of 24,000.

Would a pilot need a High Altitude endorsement?

Thanks and a quick explanation would be great too.

 

[Polar742]

61.31 states that for "Pressurized aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes"
No person may act as PIC of a pressurized aircraft (an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL)

So a little confusion on the "Whichever is Lower" part.

Lets say that I have an aircraft with a Maximum operating alitude of 26,000 but a service ceiling of 24,000.

Would a pilot need a High Altitude endorsement?

Thanks and a quick explanation would be great too.

I'm sure this is the wrong tack, but the only example I can think of off the top of my head.

I think you're approaching the question from a light aircraft background, where the service ceiling is always lower than the max operating altitude.

For example, an aircraft may be capped by at a maximum operating altitude for reasons other than the service ceiling. Perhaps the pressurization system is only designed for a maximum of 37000 feet, while the aircraft may very well have the performance to go to 41,000'.

There may very well be aircraft out there that will have a maximum altitude of 26000' and a service ceiling of 24000', and in that instance, I'd say NO, because the lower altitude is below 25,000' as per the reg.

Are you back in the states yet?

 

[CFIT99]

61.31 states that for "Pressurized aircraft capable of operating at high altitudes"
No person may act as PIC of a pressurized aircraft (an aircraft that has a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude, whichever is lower, above 25,000 feet MSL)

So a little confusion on the "Whichever is Lower" part.

Lets say that I have an aircraft with a Maximum operating alitude of 26,000 but a service ceiling of 24,000.

Would a pilot need a High Altitude endorsement?

Thanks and a quick explanation would be great too.

you need to have both for the requirment.

for example:

say you have an aircraft that is pressurized but only goes to FL210..then you don't need one.

you have an aircraft that isn't pressurized but goes above fl250...you don't need one.

you have an aircraft that is certified above fl250 but your planning on going only lower ...you NEED an endorsement

(its based on what the aircraft is capable of...not what your planning on doing.) (plans might change)

so for the endorsement you need both the 1. pressurization and 2. certified above FL250 for the need of an endorsement (and the endorsement is ground and FLIGHT btw)

 

[Xcaliber]

If I remember correctly, there were (are) several VLJ's that have a maximum operating altitude of 25,000 ft. However, they almost certainly could climb much higher. My guess is that the aircraft manufacturers made them that way to make certification easier, and maybe make the aircraft lighter. But that would be an example of an aircraft you could fly (you'd still need a type rating), but you wouldn't need the high altitude endorsement. And as CFIT99 said, if you're in a plane that is unpressurized, you never need the endorsement.