How High Can We Go?

Reading Your Height

When you climb, two things matter most: how high you are and how fast you're going. The G1000 shows you both. Here are the ideas you'll use.

Altimeter

The instrument that shows your height in feet. On the G1000 it's the tape on the right side of the main screen.

MSL

This stands for Mean Sea Level — your height measured from the ocean, not from the ground below you. It's how pilots all agree on altitude.

Vy

The best rate of climb speed — about 74 knots in our Cessna. Holding Vy gets you the most height in the least time.

Mount Everest is 29,032 feet high, but our Cessna can only climb to about 14,000 feet — the air gets too thin for the engine! That's why higher altitude means thinner air and less power.

Instructor Setup

Position the Cessna 172 G1000 just after takeoff in a climb at around 1,500 feet, calm winds, climbing toward 4,000 feet. Plan about 20 minutes. Have the airspeed and altitude tapes pointed out on the PFD.

Session Flow

1. Find the altimeter (3 min). Show the altitude tape on the PFD and explain MSL in simple terms.
2. Hold Vy (6 min). Coach the student to set and hold about 74 knots in the climb using small pitch changes.
3. Watch the climb (4 min). Have the student call out the altitude as it increases toward the target.
4. Begin the level-off (5 min). As 4,000 feet approaches, coach a gentle nose-down to level off and reduce power.
5. Wrap (2 min). Recap altimeter, Vy, and leveling off; preview "Level Off."

Keep pitch changes small so the airspeed stays near Vy. The goal is reading altitude and holding the climb speed.

Debrief

Confirm the student can read altitude and hold the climb speed before moving on.

• Found and read the altimeter on the G1000
• Can explain that altitude is measured in feet above sea level
• Held the climb speed near 74 knots (Vy) with small pitch changes
• Began a gentle level-off near the target altitude

Next Lesson

Next up is "Level Off" (K09): making a smooth, planned change from climbing to level flight. If holding Vy was tricky today, spend the first two minutes of K09 holding the climb speed before practicing the level-off.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Entry, Maintaining, Leveling Off from A Climb
• Normal Takeoff and Climbs
• Use Of Trim

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: Second of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 3, "Climbing." This session covers maintaining the climb at the best airspeed and reading the altimeter; K07 was the takeoff and entry to the climb, and K09 is the level-off.

Prerequisite

K07 — Going Up! (can perform a takeoff and enter a climb).

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator set in a climb, climb checklist card, headset.

Goal for this session

Student can read the altimeter and hold the best climb speed (Vy) during the climb.

Looking Ahead

• K09 — Level Off: smoothly changing from a climb to level flight.
• K10 — Flying Straight: holding heading and altitude in straight and level flight.