Definition
The phase of flight immediately following takeoff in which the airplane is climbed away from the runway environment to a safe altitude, using a specific airspeed, configuration, and flightpath appropriate to the conditions and aircraft performance.
Plain English
The climb you fly right after lifting off, used to get the airplane safely up and away from the runway and any nearby obstacles.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term when learning the basic flight maneuvers used after takeoff and while departing the airport traffic area.
Derivation
From 'departure' (Latin departire, 'to divide or go away') meaning to leave a place, and 'climb' meaning to ascend. Together it simply names the climbing portion of leaving the airport.
Why Pilots Care
These climbs ensure obstacle clearance and compliance with air traffic control routing before transitioning to enroute flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read departure climbs as just any climb. In this context, it means the climb connected with leaving the airport after takeoff, not the takeoff roll itself and not a cruise climb later in the flight.
Example Sentence 1
During the departure climb, the pilot maintained the recommended airspeed until reaching a safe altitude before reducing power.
Example Sentence 2
After liftoff the crew tracked the published heading during departure climbs until reaching the first altitude restriction.