The method for managing an energy variation of an aircraft provided with at least one propulsion system, capable of generating a thrust force on said aircraft comprised in a thrust range, is characterized in that said energy variation is expressed by a size representative of said energy variation and homogenous to a gradient of the aircraft, and in that it includes steps for determining the current energy variation of said aircraft, ordering an energy variation of the aircraft, determining, as a function of said ordered energy variation, a necessary thrust force that must be generated by said propulsion system for the energy variation of the aircraft to be able to tend towards said ordered energy variation, and developing and applying a control order to said propulsion system so that it delivers said necessary thrust force.