Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Practice Exam 2026 - Free Commercial Pilot License Practice Questions and Study Guide

When an aircraft reaches the single engine absolute ceiling, it no longer has the ability to maintain altitude. This is primarily due to the fact that at this ceiling, the available power from the operational engine is insufficient to produce lift that counteracts the weight of the aircraft. As a result, the aircraft will begin to lose altitude, albeit gradually.

The rate of descent at this ceiling is often very slow, reflecting the situation where the aircraft is still producing some lift but cannot ascend or maintain elevation in stable flight. In this scenario, the aircraft is effectively operating at the limit of its performance with one engine, where it can neither climb nor maintain altitude indefinitely. This makes the drifting down slowly to the altitude the most fitting answer.

This situation typically does not support aerobatic maneuvers, as those require more dynamic control and lift than the aircraft can provide in a single-engine scenario. Additionally, it cannot achieve maximum climb rate at the absolute ceiling, as that would require more thrust than what is available from the operational engine.