Definition
A controlled descent flown at a specific vertical speed, expressed in feet per minute (fpm), used to lose altitude in a predictable, measurable way during instrument procedures such as circling approaches, step-downs, or transitions to a final approach altitude.
Plain English
A descent where you choose how many feet per minute you want to come down, and hold that rate steady on the vertical speed indicator.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument approach training, especially when planning or flying a circling approach close to the airport.
Derivation
From Latin rata, meaning 'fixed amount' or 'reckoned proportion.' A 'rate' descent is one flown at a fixed, reckoned amount of altitude loss per minute, rather than just 'going down.'
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining the correct rate descent keeps the aircraft on the proper vertical path to reach the runway safely without overshooting or undershooting the landing point.
Grounding Statement
Picture watching the altimeter unwind while you control the airplane so the altitude is lost steadily, not suddenly.
Intuition Check
Do not read rate descent as simply “the airplane is descending.” The key idea is the speed of the descent: how much altitude is being lost each minute.
Example Sentence 1
After crossing the final approach fix, the pilot established a 500 fpm rate descent to reach minimums at the proper point.
Example Sentence 2
During the circling approach, a constant rate descent was used to stay aligned with the extended runway centerline.