Plain English Meaning

The speed that gives you the steepest possible climb after one engine has quit on a twin. You trade forward speed for height gained over a short distance — useful when something is in the way ahead.

Full Definition

VXSE is the airspeed that produces the greatest gain in altitude per unit of horizontal distance traveled in a multi-engine airplane operating with one engine inoperative. It is published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook and is used when maximum altitude gain over the shortest ground distance is needed after an engine failure, such as clearing an obstacle on departure.

Context Anchor

Seen in multiengine airplane performance information and engine- climb discussions.