Definition
The default climb performance assumed for instrument departure and missed approach procedures, requiring an aircraft to gain at least 200 feet of altitude for every nautical mile of horizontal distance flown along the procedure track. Unless a higher gradient is specifically published, this rate is the minimum used by the FAA when designing obstacle clearance for departure procedures and missed approaches.
Plain English
The standard climb rate used when designing instrument procedures: 200 feet up for every mile forward. If a procedure does not list a different number, this is what your aircraft must be able to do to stay safely above terrain and obstacles.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach and missed approach discussions, especially when checking whether the aircraft can climb fast enough after going missed.
Derivation
Gradient' comes from Latin gradus, meaning 'step' or 'pace.' A climb gradient is literally the steepness of the climbing path -- how much altitude you step up for each step forward over the ground. 'Standard' here means 'the default value assumed unless told otherwise.'
Why Pilots Care
Ensures the aircraft will clear obstacles by the required margin when executing a missed approach or departure; failure to meet it can result in unsafe terrain separation.
Analogy
Think of it like a ramp. The number tells you how steep the ramp is: 200 feet up for each nautical mile forward.
Grounding Statement
If you fly one nautical mile after starting the climb, you should be at least 200 feet higher than where you began.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a climb rate in feet per minute. It is climb over distance: 200 feet up for each nautical mile forward.
Example Sentence 1
The departure procedure required only the 200 ft/NM standard climb gradient, so we calculated our climb rate against ground speed to confirm we could meet it.
Example Sentence 2
When the published missed approach requires more than the 200 ft/NM standard climb gradient, the chart will list the higher value explicitly.