Step climbs
I am trying to understand step climbs better. What I have read is you generally start 1000 or 2000 feet higher than optimum (as stated by charts or FMC), then when you are 2000 feet below optimum you climb 4000feet. All this is assuming ATC clearance has allowed this to occur.
So, leaving ATC to the side, my questions are, first, is this theory (called bracketing I believe) correct?
Second, lets assume that once in the initial climb the FMC states your weight puts you at 360 as optimum (payload is lighter due to less pax but the flight is a North Atlantic crossing of 3600nm). Would you climb to FL370/380 that early on? The assumed plane is a B772.
The flight plans that I see (they are real world) seem to indicate step climbs of 2000 feet intervals, not 4000 feet. Any light that any of you may shed for me would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!