Climbing
Learn to establish and maintain a climb at a specified airspeed, in various configurations, and to level off at a specified altitude. Understand the factors that determine climb performance and when to use different climb techniques.
What You Have Learned
You can now safely establish a climb at a given airspeed and level off accurately at a specified altitude. Your airspeed control is improving, and you are learning to use trim effectively — reducing your workload and allowing you to focus on lookout and navigation.
You understand the factors that affect climb performance:
- How excess power determines rate of climb
- The effect of weight, altitude, and temperature on available power
- How wind affects your climb gradient over the ground without changing your rate of climb
- Why flap configuration matters — and when a small amount of flap can actually help
Key Techniques
You should be comfortable with three distinct climb profiles and know when to use each:
| Climb Type | Airspeed | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Best Angle (Vx) | Slowest | Obstacle clearance after takeoff |
| Best Rate (Vy) | Moderate | Normal climb — maximum altitude gain per minute |
| Cruise Climb | Fastest | Cross-country, better visibility and engine cooling |
Sequences to Remember
- Entering the Climb
- Power — Attitude — Trim (P-A-T)
- Leveling Off
- Attitude — Power — Trim (A-P-T)
Looking Ahead
In the next lesson — Straight and Level — you will refine your ability to maintain a constant altitude and heading, building on the attitude and trim skills you have developed during the climbing exercise. Accurate straight and level flight is the foundation upon which all other maneuvers are built.
Simulator Practice
Before your next flight, use our AATD simulator to practice climb entries and level-offs at various altitudes. The G1000 NXi's altitude alerting system will help you develop awareness of when to begin your level-off anticipation.
These lesson plans are provided as supplementary training guidance only. They do not supersede FAA publications, aircraft manufacturer documentation, or your instructor's direction. Always refer to the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook, Airplane Flying Handbook, AIM, and applicable POH/AFM as the official sources.