The takeoff flightpath profile with required gradients
of climb for the various segments and configurations
is shown in figure 9-38.
Note: Climb gradient can best be described as being a
certain gain of vertical height for a given distance covered
horizontally. For instance, a 2.4 percent gradient
means that 24 feet of altitude would be gained for each
1,000 feet of distance covered horizontally across the
ground. The following brief explanation of the one-engine
inoperative climb profile may be helpful in understanding
the chart in figure 9-38.
FIRST SEGMENT
This segment is included in the takeoff runway
required charts and is measured from the point at which
the airplane becomes airborne until it reaches the 35-
foot height at the end of the runway distance required.
Speed initially is VLO and must be V2 at the 35-foot
height.
SECOND SEGMENT
This is the most critical segment of the profile. The second
segment is the climb from the 35-foot height to 400
feet above the ground. The climb is done at full takeoff
power on the operating engine(s), at V2 speed, and with
the flaps in the takeoff configuration. The required
climb gradient in this segment is 2.4 percent for twoengine
airplanes, 2.7 percent for three-engine airplanes,
and 3.0 percent for four-engine airplanes.
THIRD OR ACCELERATION SEGMENT
During this segment, the airplane is considered to be
maintaining the 400 feet above the ground and accelerating
from the V2 speed to the VFS speed before the
climb profile is continued. The flaps are raised at the
beginning of the acceleration segment and power is
maintained at the takeoff setting as long as possible
(5 minutes maximum).
FOURTH OR FINAL SEGMENT
This segment is from the 400 to 1,500-foot AGL altitude
with power set at maximum continuous. The
required climb in this segment is a gradient of 1.2 percent
for two-engine airplanes, 1.55 for three-engine airplanes,
and 1.7 percent for four-engine airplanes.
SECOND SEGMENT CLIMB LIMITATIONS
The second segment climb requirements, from 35 to
400 feet, are the most restrictive (or hardest to meet) of
the climb segments. The pilot must determine that the
second segment climb is met for each takeoff. In order
to achieve this performance at the higher density altitude
conditions, it may be necessary to limit the takeoff
weight of the airplane.
It must be realized that, regardless of the actual
available length of the takeoff runway, takeoff
weight must be adjusted so that the second segment
climb requirements can be met. The airplane may
well be capable of lifting off with one engine inoperative,
but it must then be able to climb and clear obstacles. Although second segment climb may not
present much of a problem at the lower altitudes, at
the higher altitude airports and higher temperatures
the second segment climb chart should be consulted
to determine the effects on maximum takeoff weights before figuring takeoff runway distance required.