Definition
The specific indicated airspeed an aircraft is flown at during the climb after takeoff, established by the manufacturer or procedure to deliver a desired performance such as best rate of climb, best angle of climb, or a normal cruise climb.
Plain English
The speed the airplane should be flown at while climbing away from the runway. It is set by the airplane's handbook or the procedure being used, and the pilot pitches the nose up or down as needed to hold that speed on the airspeed indicator.
Context Anchor
Seen during takeoff, initial climb, and instrument departure procedures, especially when the pilot is using the flight instruments instead of outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Using the wrong climbing airspeed can produce a shallow climb that fails to clear obstacles or creates excessive drag that slows acceleration.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as simply “speed while climbing” with no target in mind. In aviation use, climbing airspeed means the specific airspeed the pilot is trying to maintain for a safe and effective climb.
Example Sentence 1
After lift-off, the pilot pitched for the published climbing airspeed of 80 knots and trimmed to hold it.
Example Sentence 2
The most common error on an instrument takeoff is failing to promptly set and hold the correct climbing airspeed.