PR
Fully agree, and precautions are taken when such a clearance is given, safety buffers and all that, and I am aware of the fact that a rate is neither instantly achieved nor instantly abated, all facts that I am trying to drum into my trainees!! Also, if giving a relatively high rod, I would never expect the pilot to keep the rate until maintaining. If this could be the case I would obtain a lower level from our subjacent sector and tell piolt to maintain rate untill passing F260, as in my example above.
But, to get back to my original point, what is understood by pilots by the clearance with a rate of climb or descent? I have had several very interesting answers but the more the merrier, keep the opinions coming.