Levelling off: leading the altitude
Level-off starts before target altitude. Aircraft keeps climbing or descending (at decreasing rate) through transition: waiting for target overshoots.
Rule (TP 1102): lead altitude by 10 percent of vertical speed shown on VSI.
- Example (source): level off from 800 ft/min descent, lead approximately 80 ft.
- Same rule for climb and descent; no chart needed.
| Phase | Begin level-off |
|---|---|
| Climbing | Below target, by lead amount |
| Descending | Above target, by lead amount |
At lead point: adjust attitude (and power, on a descent) to stop altimeter at desired altitude, then trim.
Trap: holding pitch until altimeter reads target overshoots every time; higher vertical speed, bigger overshoot.
References
- TP 1102 (Aeroplane Flight Training Manual), Instrument Flying, Climbing/Descending, Levelling Off