Plain English Meaning
Climbing and turning at the same time, instead of climbing straight ahead and then turning, or turning level and then climbing.
Full Definition
A maneuver in which the aircraft simultaneously gains altitude and changes heading along a curved flight path. On an instrument approach or departure profile view, a turning climb is depicted by a curved line with an arrow showing the direction of turn, typically used for missed approach procedures or departure routings that require both a climb and a course change.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when a departure, training maneuver, or assigned path requires the aircraft to gain altitude while moving onto a new heading.
Why Pilots Care
Combines altitude gain and directional change in one efficient maneuver when both are required.
Intuition Check
A turning climb is not a climb followed by a turn. It means the turn and the climb are happening at the same time.
Example Sentence 1
The missed approach procedure called for a turning climb to 3,000 feet on a heading of 270.
Example Sentence 2
The profile view showed the turning climb segment from the runway to the first fix.