Definition
The pitch position of the airplane, relative to the horizon, that produces a sustained climb at the desired airspeed and power setting. It is the nose-up attitude the pilot establishes and holds on the attitude indicator and outside horizon during the climb.
Plain English
How high the airplane's nose is held above the horizon to make the airplane climb steadily at the right speed.
Context Anchor
Used when establishing a climb, especially after takeoff, during a go-around, or any time the pilot changes from level flight to climbing flight.
Derivation
“Climb” means to go upward. “Attitude” in aviation means the airplane’s posture or position compared with the horizon. Together, “climb attitude” means the airplane’s upward-climbing posture.
Why Pilots Care
Holding the correct climb attitude produces the desired rate of climb while keeping airspeed safe and avoiding a stall.
Grounding Statement
In the cockpit, climb attitude is the outside sight picture of the nose sitting higher than it does in level flight.
Intuition Check
Attitude here does not mean mood or opinion. It means the airplane’s position, especially nose-up or nose-down, compared with the horizon.
Example Sentence 1
After lift-off, the pilot smoothly raised the nose to the climb attitude and held it steady against the horizon.
Example Sentence 2
Maintaining the proper climb attitude produced a steady 700 feet per minute rate of climb.