Aircraft Speed Limits Explained

Richie Lengel

Friday, October 14, 2016 at 07:43 PM ET

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Do you know the specifics on aircraft speed limits? Alamy

Key Takeaways:

Aircraft generally operate at Mach 1 above 10,000 feet MSL and 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) below 10,000 feet MSL, with specific lower limits (e.g., 200 KIAS) applying in designated airspace areas like beneath Class B or near Class C/D airports.
Pilots must adhere to regulatory speed limits (e.g., 250 KIAS below 10,000 feet MSL) even if instructed by Air Traffic Control (ATC) to maintain "best forward speed," as ATC cannot authorize a pilot to violate regulations; pilots also have the prerogative to refuse excessive speed adjustments.
Maximum holding pattern speeds are altitude-dependent, ranging from 200 KIAS at or below 6,000 feet MSL to 265 KIAS above 14,001 feet MSL, unless otherwise charted.

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Speed Limits:

In the United States — Mach 1
10,000 feet msl or above — Unrestricted (but not more than Mach 1)
Below 10,000 feet msl — 250 kias
Class B airspace — Unrestricted at or above 10,000 feet msl, 250 kias below 10,000 feet msl
Beneath Class B or in VFR corridor through Class B — 200 kias
Procedure turn — 200 kias
Class C or D airspace (at or below 2,500 feet agl within 4 nm of the primary airport) — 200 kias (unless a higher speed is specifically approved by ATC)
Class E or G airport traffic pattern — 200 kias (recommended)

91.117(d) — If the minimum safe airspeed for any particular operation is greater than the maximum speed prescribed in this section, the aircraft may be operated at that minimum speed. Note: There is no requirement to advise ATC when exceeding a speed for this reason.