Methods and systems for providing vertical flight guidance for an aircraft. Vertical flight guidance for the aircraft is provided by an aircraft computer in an altitude capture mode for commanding the aircraft to capture a target altitude. At least one engine inoperative condition is detected by the computer, while in the altitude capture mode. In response to detecting the at least one engine inoperative condition, the computer causes an automatic transition (e.g., no pilot action on a flight level change (FLC) pushbutton on a flight control panel) of the vertical flight guidance for the aircraft from the altitude capture mode to an already existing mode that is flight level change with modified control parameters and provides vertical flight guidance in the flight level change mode for commanding the aircraft to capture the target altitude while maintaining airspeed of the aircraft substantially at a target airspeed.