Definition
Performance charts found in the Pilot's Operating Handbook that show how the aircraft will perform during the climb and cruise phases of flight. Climb charts give expected rate of climb, time, fuel, and distance to reach a chosen altitude under given conditions. Cruise charts show the power settings, true airspeed, and fuel burn the aircraft will produce at various altitudes, temperatures, and power settings.
Plain English
Tables or graphs from the aircraft's handbook that tell you how it will climb (how fast, how much fuel, how long) and how it will cruise (how fast it goes and how much fuel it burns) under specific conditions.
Context Anchor
Seen in the aircraft flight manual or pilot’s operating handbook when planning takeoff, climb, cross-country fuel, time, and cruise performance.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate use allows a pilot to predict fuel burn and arrival time so the flight can be completed with adequate reserves.
Intuition Check
Do not read “climb” and “cruise” here as casual descriptions of going up and flying along. In this context, they refer to published performance data for specific phases of flight under specific conditions.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot used the climb chart to estimate it would take 12 minutes and 2 gallons of fuel to reach 8,500 feet.
Example Sentence 2
At the planned cruise altitude the climb and cruise charts showed a lower fuel flow than expected.