Definition
A required climb performance, published on certain instrument approach procedures, that exceeds the standard 200 feet per nautical mile climb gradient used for missed approaches and departures. When a higher gradient is needed to clear obstacles or terrain along the missed approach path, the chart specifies the required feet per nautical mile and the altitude up to which it must be maintained.
Plain English
On some approaches, if you have to go around, you must climb more steeply than usual to stay clear of terrain or obstacles. The chart tells you exactly how steep and up to what altitude.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument procedure charts and missed approach instructions when the normal climb assumption is not enough for that procedure.
Derivation
Gradient comes from a Latin root meaning “to step” or “to walk.” In technical use, it came to mean how much something changes over a distance; in aviation, climb gradient means how much altitude the aircraft gains for each mile it travels forward.
Why Pilots Care
Aircraft performance must be checked in advance; failure to meet the requirement can lead to inadequate obstacle clearance.
Intuition Check
“Steeper” does not mean nose-up attitude by itself. Here it means more altitude gained per mile forward. “Standard” does not mean best or safest for every airport. It means the normal planning assumption unless the procedure publishes a higher requirement.
Example Sentence 1
The approach plate required a climb gradient of 280 feet per nautical mile to 3,500 feet, steeper than standard, so the pilot checked the aircraft's climb performance before beginning the approach.
Example Sentence 2
Confirm the aircraft can sustain the steeper than standard climb gradient before flying the procedure.