Ahh... your nit is picked correctly Absolute single engine ceiling would
be more correct.

Another nit would be that those numbers are created by test pilots and then
"altered" by salesman. For instance the service ceiling for the Aztec is
around 15,000 feet... yeah right! I've had ours up to 13,000 at full gross,
and I tell you I had to step climb to get up that last 1000 feet, and it was
at no where near 100 fpm.
Jim

"BDS" wrote in message
t...

"Jim" wrote

That's the correct phraseology. Loose an engine and you'll descend to
the
single engine service ceiling (density altitude). The Aztec is 6000 ft.
Plenty of MEA's out west that are higher than that.

Since this is usenet and nitpicking is all the rage... the above is not
quite correct. Service ceiling is the altitude at which you can no longer
climb faster than something like 100 fpm. If you're above the service
ceiling when you lose the engine you will probably be able to maintain
something somewhat higher, like maybe 6005 feet...

BDS