Climb Gradient
Required climb gradient + ground speed → required climb rate. Or the reverse. ODP, SID, and obstacle-clearance planning made trivial.
Inputs
From the ODP, SID, or "minimum climb gradient" note.
Use planned climb groundspeed — TAS adjusted for wind.
60-to-1 rule
fpm = (gradient ft/nm × GS kt) / 60
At any ground speed, 1° of climb angle ≈ 1 nm forward per 60 nm traveled. Used by ODPs, SIDs, and departure obstacle-clearance planning everywhere.
Required climb rate
300 fpm
Vertical speed required to meet this gradient.
Climb profile (angle shown — capped at 45° for display)
Full bundle
(3.29% grade)
Performance band
Safe
Light singles can hold this gradient at full power.
Advisory only — actual capability depends on density altitude, weight, and POH numbers. Always cross-check against your aircraft's published climb performance for the conditions.
About this calculator
ODPs (Obstacle Departure Procedures) and SIDs (Standard Instrument Departures) publish a minimum climb gradient in ft per nautical mile that you must hold to clear terrain or obstacles. The gradient is independent of ground speed — but the vertical speed needed to maintain it is not. The faster you fly, the more fpm you need.
The math is the classic 60-to-1 rule: fpm = (ft/nm × GS) / 60. Sanity check: a standard 3° glideslope ≈ 318 ft/nm; a steep terrain ODP at 400 ft/nm and 200 kt demands ~1333 fpm — turbine territory, or you slow down on climb.
Trim
Teaching instrument departures? Trim tracks your student's progress through ODPs, SIDs, and the IFR curriculum milestones.
Flight training management for independent CFIs.