DENSITY ALT CONFUSION
Can someone help me. I'm completely confused about density altitude.
I flew an aircraft, I was at a pressure altitude (1013mb) of 15000ft. It was ISA+13 which was indicating a density altitude of about 16800ft. My question:
1/ To obtain power figures and climb rates, my AOM gives tables of pressure altitudes only to derive RPM, TAS, and GPH at ISA -30, ISA and ISA +30. Do I use the density altitude (16800ft) to be the 17000ft pressure altitude figures in the table of the AOM or do I use the 15000ft pressure altitude im currently indicating?
2/ If my aircraft maximum operating altitude is 17000ft and I'm at 15000ft but my density altitude is giving 18000ft, am I now exceeding the aircraft maximum altitude capability?
Basically, does density altitude affect the maximum cruising level I can go to when my aircraft is certified to fly at a given max operating altitude?