Which is the correct phraseology example when assigning a higher altitude?

Which is the correct phraseology example when assigning a higher altitude?

• A. ACID climb and maintain
• B. ACID maintain altitude
• C. ACID climb and hold
• D. ACID increase and maintain

Answer: (A)

When you assign a higher altitude, the standard instruction is to tell the aircraft to climb and then maintain that new level. This pattern—climb and maintain [altitude]—clears up exactly what action is being taken (climb) and what the aircraft should do afterwards (maintain the new altitude). The phrase that uses this exact pattern with the callsign is the best fit because it communicates both the ascent and the obligation to hold the new altitude. Other phrasings are not correct for a higher-altitude assignment: they either omit the climb directive, use a term like hold which implies a holding pattern rather than simply maintaining the new level, or use an unfamiliar verb for altitude changes.

When you assign a higher altitude, the standard instruction is to tell the aircraft to climb and then maintain that new level. This pattern—climb and maintain [altitude]—clears up exactly what action is being taken (climb) and what the aircraft should do afterwards (maintain the new altitude).

The phrase that uses this exact pattern with the callsign is the best fit because it communicates both the ascent and the obligation to hold the new altitude. Other phrasings are not correct for a higher-altitude assignment: they either omit the climb directive, use a term like hold which implies a holding pattern rather than simply maintaining the new level, or use an unfamiliar verb for altitude changes.