ATPL Airframe Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

The cabin altitude rate of change is critical for passenger comfort and safety during flight. The correct limit for the cabin altitude rate of change is 1,500 feet per minute. This limit is set to prevent rapid changes in cabin pressure, which can lead to discomfort, ear pain, or even more serious physiological effects for passengers and crew members.

When an aircraft climbs or descends, maintaining a controlled rate of cabin altitude change helps to ensure that the human body can acclimate to the new pressure conditions more comfortably. The limit is particularly important during the ascent and descent phases of flight, where a rapid change in altitude can lead to inadequate time for passengers to adjust to differences in pressure.

Higher rates of change, such as 2,000 feet per minute or 3,000 feet per minute, would increase the likelihood of negative passenger experiences and could create safety concerns, particularly for less acclimated individuals, such as those with pre-existing medical conditions. Therefore, the established limit of 1,500 feet per minute is a key standard in aviation regulations to ensure an optimal balance between operational efficiency and passenger well-being.