(aviation, usually intransitive, of an aircraft) To periodically climb to higher and higher altitudes during cruise flight, as the aircraft becomes lighter from fuel burnoff, to take advantage of the reduced drag at higher altitudes; like cruise-climbing, but with the aircraft climbing in discrete steps instead of continuously.

Alternative form of cruise-climb

Alternative form of cruise-climb

(aviation) An instance of cruise-climbing.

(aviation, usually intransitive, of an aircraft) To slowly but continuously climb during cruise flight as the aircraft's weight decreases due to fuel burnoff (done because flight at higher altitudes is more efficient but requires a lighter aircraft).

present participle of cruise-climb

plural of step-climb

plural of cruise-climb

simple past tense and past participle of cruise-climb

present participle of step climb