Definition
An autopilot mode that commands the aircraft to climb or descend at a pilot-selected vertical rate, expressed in feet per minute, and holds that rate until the pilot changes it or another mode takes over.
Plain English
A setting on the autopilot where you tell it how fast you want to climb or descend in feet per minute, and it pitches the airplane up or down to keep that exact rate.
Context Anchor
Seen when using the autopilot during climbs, descents, or altitude changes, usually on the autopilot control panel or flight display.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces pilot workload during climbs and descents by handling pitch adjustments automatically.
Grounding Statement
If you select a 500-foot-per-minute climb, the autopilot adjusts the nose to try to keep that climb rate.
Intuition Check
Do not read “hold” as holding altitude. In vertical speed hold mode, the autopilot holds a selected rate of climb or descent, not a level altitude.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling at the assigned altitude, the pilot engaged vertical speed hold mode and selected 500 feet per minute for the climb to the next altitude.
Example Sentence 2
With vertical speed hold mode active, the autopilot adjusted the nose pitch to hold the selected descent rate.