Use of pitch/VS in climb?

[Condor]

Recent discussion on our company forum concerns use of pitch/VS in climb (presently not allowed in our company) as with introduction of RVSM it will not be acceptable to exceed 1500fpm climb in RVSM airspace. What do other airlines use/intend to use??

[CaptainSquelch]

Haven't heard about that one before. Do you have any references?

Sq

[Sir_Fly-a-Lot]

We use 300KIAS up to FL290/M.078 in N1/IAS mode, above FL 290 N1/VS so as to keep our climb speed limited to M0.78 .As long as you keep a good eye on your ASI, there is no problem in climbing in VS or Pitch. If you don't, that's when the trouble starts ! As far as RVSM are concerned, we're not changing anything.

[This message has been edited by Sir_Fly-a-Lot (edited 04 January 2001).]

[mustafagander]

Condor,
RVSM airspace is FL290 to FL410 in my part of the world. The B744 doesn't have any trouble keeping climb rate below 1500ft/min at these alts.
If, however, it were to become a problem how about a (small) derate to the thrust?
Anyway, V/S climbs only ever become a problem if P/F is not paying attention.
As an aside, many of us on the B744 do 2000ft step climbs in V/S mode @ 400ft/min so as not to disturb the customers with deck angle changes and rapid pressurisation changes.

[Captain Tobias Wilcox]

mustafagander,

I trust you report your low RoC to ATC - if you are maintaining less than 500fpm RoC/D, you are in breach of the Instrument Flight Rules.

Regards from all at Coconut Airways - hotter by the day!!

[jonno]

Same, we use 320 kias up to 0.82M, then Mach
hold at 0.82M until altitude capture and the FE trims to hold 0.85M for the cruise!
Works good!!!

[Gearpins_stowed*]

L.S.,

We operate extensively on the North Atlantic routes thus using the RVSM airspace many times. In our Route Operations Manual (which is used in flight as a reference for regional procedures and contingency´s) is stated:
"Climb and descent rates in the RVSM airspace, incl. Transition Areas, should be LIMITED TO 1000´/MIN to minimize the generation of TAs and RAs."
On the B744 we stick to this rule all the time and use spd / v/s (spd in Mach) to achieve this requirement.

Greetz,

.......Stowed indeed!

[FE Hoppy]

New TCAS/ACAS software update should fix the climb rate prob in RVSM.

[Util BUS]

Haven't heard about RVSM climb rate restrictions, but our it is frowned upon to use the VS climb mode because of the lack of stall protection on most boeing aircraft.