page_title: Climb (aeronautics)
section_title: Climb phase
hierarchical_section_title: Climb (aeronautics) / Climb phase
caption_attribution_description: English: SP-ENB in Cracow
context_page_description: In aviation, a climb is the operation of increasing the altitude of an aircraft. It is also the logical phase of a typical flight following takeoff and preceding the cruise. During the climb phase there is an increase in altitude to a predetermined level.
context_section_description: The climb phase, also known as climb-out or initial climb, is the period during which the aircraft climbs to a predetermined cruising altitude after take-off. The climb phase immediately follows take-off and precedes the cruise phase of the flight.  Although a single climb phase is typical, multiple climb phases may alternate with cruise phases, particularly for very long flights in which altitude is increased as the weight of fuel aboard decreases (see step climb).
  As the climb progresses, the rate of climb decreases as thrust reduces due to reducing air density. A gradual climb improves forward visibility over the nose of the aircraft.
  Aircraft also climb when flying in a zone of rising air, but since such zones are unpredictable and inconveniently located, and since most are poorly adapted to passive climbs of this type, only gliders attempt such climbs on a regular basis.
  The opposite of a climb is a descent.
caption: A Boeing 737 climbing
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