Systems and methods for graphically indicating aircraft ascent and descent capabilities

A system configured present graphical information indicating capability of an aircraft to change altitude, the system comprising:

• a user interface configured to receive information corresponding to a desired change in altitude;
• a memory configured to store aircraft attribute parameters, wherein the aircraft attribute parameters affect the ability of the aircraft to change altitude;
• and
• a processing system communicatively coupled to the user interface and the memory, wherein the processing system is configured to:
• determine an altitude change capability of the aircraft based on the stored aircraft attribute parameters;
• determine an altitude change capability icon based on the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft,
• wherein the altitude change capability icon is defined by at least a leading portion, a trailing portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion,
• wherein a slope of the leading portion of the altitude change capability icon corresponds to the determined altitude change capability of the aircraft, and
• wherein the leading portion and the trailing portion are separated by at least the top portion and the bottom portion;
• and
• a display system communicatively coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the altitude change capability icon from the processing system, wherein the altitude change capability icon is presentable on a display of the display system.