Which pitch mode is recommended when a departure procedure includes altitude constraints?

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Multiple Choice

Which pitch mode is recommended when a departure procedure includes altitude constraints?

When a departure procedure includes altitude constraints, you want the aircraft to follow the planned vertical path while also controlling speed. VNAV SPD climb is ideal because it uses the flight plan’s altitude restrictions to sequence your ascent, while the autothrottle maintains a chosen climb speed. This combination keeps energy managed and ensures you reach each constraint at the correct waypoint without overshooting or undershooting. Other modes rely on holding or targeting a specific pitch or altitude. VNAV PITCH fixes the pitch and doesn’t automatically adapt to the required step-down constraints, which can lead to not meeting the exact altitudes at the designated fixes. VNAV ALT focuses on capturing and preserving a particular altitude, which isn’t flexible enough for a SID with multiple constraints that you must progress through on the climb. HOLD would stop progress at the current altitude, defeating the purpose of following the SID’s step-down profile.

When a departure procedure includes altitude constraints, you want the aircraft to follow the planned vertical path while also controlling speed. VNAV SPD climb is ideal because it uses the flight plan’s altitude restrictions to sequence your ascent, while the autothrottle maintains a chosen climb speed. This combination keeps energy managed and ensures you reach each constraint at the correct waypoint without overshooting or undershooting.

Other modes rely on holding or targeting a specific pitch or altitude. VNAV PITCH fixes the pitch and doesn’t automatically adapt to the required step-down constraints, which can lead to not meeting the exact altitudes at the designated fixes. VNAV ALT focuses on capturing and preserving a particular altitude, which isn’t flexible enough for a SID with multiple constraints that you must progress through on the climb. HOLD would stop progress at the current altitude, defeating the purpose of following the SID’s step-down profile.

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