“November 12345 is cleared for the visual approach to Runway One Left, traffic is a Boeing 737 on a seven-mile final behind you, maintain best speed, contact the tower….”
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Keep Your Speed Up
"November 12345 is cleared for the visual approach to Runway One Left, traffic is a Boeing 737 on a seven-mile final behind you, maintain best speed, contact the tower....Fly into a Class C or Class B primary airport and youll eventually be asked to keep your speed up because of inbound traffic behind you. Do it IFR, even at some Class D facilities, and youd best be very ready to mix with the heavy iron, which easily could be approaching 100 knots faster than your flivver can manage.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots are often asked to maintain higher speeds on approach at busy airports; using pre-determined "by the numbers" power and configuration settings helps manage workload and ensure predictable aircraft performance.
- A high-speed approach technique involves flying just under the maximum landing gear extension speed (VLO) with gear and flaps up, then simultaneously extending gear, reducing power, and adding flaps at the glideslope intercept.
- Specific high-speed approach procedures vary by aircraft type (e.g., retractable vs. fixed gear, gear extension characteristics) but aim to configure the aircraft for a stabilized descent.
- Regardless of ATC requests, pilots must prioritize flying a stabilized approach by at least 500 feet above the touchdown zone and are always able to decline a speed request if unable to comply safely.
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