Definition
A descent flown at a fixed, unchanging rate of altitude loss, expressed in feet per minute (fpm) on the vertical speed indicator. The pilot adjusts pitch and power to hold the chosen rate steady throughout the descent, regardless of changes in airspeed or groundspeed.
Plain English
A descent where you keep the airplane coming down at the same number of feet per minute the whole way down, instead of letting that rate vary.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when practicing straight descents, planning altitude changes, or descending smoothly toward an assigned altitude.
Derivation
“Constant” comes from a Latin idea meaning “standing firm” or “unchanging.” “Rate” means an amount measured over time. Together, the phrase points to the key idea: the descent is controlled by keeping the amount of altitude lost per minute steady.
Why Pilots Care
Enables predictable altitude loss timing so the aircraft reaches decision altitude or pattern altitude exactly when needed.
Grounding Statement
Picture the altitude decreasing at the same steady pace each minute while the airplane continues forward.
Intuition Check
Do not read “constant” as meaning everything stays the same. In a constant rate descent, the steady item is the rate of altitude loss; power, nose position, or airspeed may still need adjustment.
Example Sentence 1
ATC cleared us to descend at a constant rate of 500 feet per minute until reaching 6,000.
Example Sentence 2
With a tailwind increasing, slight nose-up pitch and reduced power were needed to keep the same constant rate descent.