Definition
An ATC instruction requiring the pilot to climb at the best rate the aircraft is capable of, without delay, until reaching a specified altitude. The pilot is expected to use maximum practical climb performance and to advise ATC if unable to comply.
Plain English
ATC is telling you to climb as fast as your aircraft safely can, right now, until you reach the altitude they gave you. Don't take your time about it.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument flying when air traffic control needs an aircraft to reach a higher altitude quickly, often for traffic separation or route management.
Derivation
Expedite' comes from the Latin expedire, meaning 'to free from a snare' or 'to make ready.' In ATC use it means 'do this quickly, without delay' — the controller needs the action completed promptly to keep traffic separated.
Why Pilots Care
Allows ATC to maintain safe separation from other traffic or clear restricted airspace without delay.
Intuition Check
Expedite does not mean emergency climb or ignore aircraft limits. It means climb without unnecessary delay and as quickly as is safe for that aircraft and situation.
Example Sentence 1
Center instructed us to expedite climb through 8,000 to clear opposite-direction traffic.
Example Sentence 2
We expedited our climb to FL240 to meet the crossing restriction before the next sector.