IFR CLIMB GRADIENT TRACKER

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About the IFR Climb Gradient Tracker

What it does

This tool turns live ADS-B data into a real-time picture of your aircraft's actual climb performance. From liftoff it measures altitude gained versus ground distance flown and reports your climb gradient in feet per nautical mile (ft/NM) — the same units every published IFR departure procedure uses. Book numbers tell you what the airplane did at the factory; this shows what your airplane did today, at today's weight and density altitude.

Who it's for

• Instrument pilots who want real evidence that their aircraft can meet an ODP or SID climb requirement (e.g., "minimum climb of 310 ft/NM to 5,600").
• CFIs / CFIIs demonstrating real-world climb performance versus POH predictions.
• Aircraft owners tracking performance trends, density-altitude effects, or post-maintenance changes.

How to use it

1. US and Canadian pilots: just type your registration (e.g. N123AB or C-GABC) — it converts to the ICAO hex code automatically. Other countries: look up your hex at avionictools.com/icao.php (also linked next to the Add Aircraft box).
2. Enter your registration or hex (and optionally a callsign) and click + Add.
3. The tracker auto-detects the nearest airport and fetches the current altimeter setting so altitudes are pressure-corrected to MSL. If either field turns red, click it and enter the value manually.
4. Optional: set a target climb altitude (ft MSL) on the card. If left blank, the target is takeoff elevation + 2,000 ft. Optional: click Select DER From Map to mark the departure end of runway and capture your DER crossing height.
5. Fly. The tool automatically detects taxi, takeoff, and climb, and shows live instantaneous, cumulative, and 5-second smoothed gradients plus full climb graphs.
6. After the climb (or 10 seconds after reaching target with auto-close on), click Export CSV on the card to download the complete flight data log — from 60 seconds before takeoff to the end of the flight.

Data caveats

Data comes from the public ADS-B network: coverage, latency, and update rate vary, and low-altitude coverage near some airports is spotty. Altitudes are ADS-B barometric values corrected with the local altimeter setting; small errors are normal. Basic anonymous usage data (aircraft tracked and climb results) is logged to see how the tool is used. This tool is for situational awareness, training, and performance study only — it is not for navigation, terrain or obstacle avoidance, or a substitute for required preflight performance planning.