---
title: "CS 23.2120 Climb requirements — CS-23 · Avioverse"
description: "The design must comply with the following minimum climb performance out of ground effect:"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/cs-23/subpart-b/cs-23-2120"
---

# CS 23.2120 Climb requirements

Normal-Category Aeroplanes (CS-23) · CS-23 · EAR revision 13 May 2026

IR Implementing rule

## CS 23.2120 Climb requirements

The design must comply with the following minimum climb performance out of ground effect:

(a) with all engines operating and in the initial climb configuration(s):

(1) for Level-1 and -2 low-speed aeroplanes, a climb gradient of 8.3 % for landplanes and 6.7 % for seaplanes and amphibians; and

(2) for Level-1 and -2 high-speed aeroplanes and all Level-3 and -4 aeroplanes, a climb gradient at take-off of 4 %.

(b) after a critical loss of thrust on multi-engine aeroplanes:

(1) for Level-1 and -2 low-speed aeroplanes that do not meet single-engine crashworthiness requirements, a climb gradient of 1.5 % at a pressure altitude of 1 524 m (5 000 ft) in the cruise configuration;

(2) for Level-1 and -2 high-speed aeroplanes, and Level-3 low-speed aeroplanes, a 1 % climb gradient at 122 m (400 ft) above the take-off surface with the landing gear retracted and flaps in the take-off configuration; and

(3) for Level-3 high-speed aeroplanes and all Level-4 aeroplanes, a 2 % climb gradient at 122 m (400 ft) above the take-off surface with the landing gear retracted and flaps in the approach configuration;

(c) a climb gradient of 3 % during balked landing, without creating undue pilot workload, with the landing gear extended and flaps in the landing configuration(s).

IR · CS 23.2120 — CS-23 · ED Decision 2017/013/R · CS-23 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 13 May 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 23.2120 Climb requirements

ASTM F44 F3264 Standard Specification for Normal Category Aeroplanes Certification

5.5 Climb Requirements

F3179/F3179M-22e1 Standard Specification for Performance of Aircraft

\[AMC & GM to CS-23: Issue 4]

\[AMC & GM to CS-23: Issue 5]

AMC · AMC1 23.2120 — CS-23 · ED Decision 2026/003/R · CS-23 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 13 May 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC2 23.2120 Climb requirements

CS-23 Amdt 4

23.63 Climb: General

23.65 Climb: All engines operating

AMC · AMC2 23.2120 — CS-23 · ED Decision 2017/025/R · CS-23 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 13 May 2026

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC3 23.2120 Climb requirements

CS-VLA Amdt 1

CS-VLA 65 ‘Climbs’: All engines operating

Remarks

To demonstrate compliance with CS 23.2120, the climb gradient should be determined, using F3179M 20 ‘Standard Specification for Performance of Aircraft’.

AMC · AMC3 23.2120 — CS-23 · ED Decision 2023/002/R · CS-23 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 13 May 2026

[All rules in SUBPART B — FLIGHT](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/cs-23/subpart-b)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 13 May 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.