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:

The default maximum speed for civil aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL in most U.S. airspace is 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS), which Air Traffic Control (ATC) cannot authorize pilots to exceed.
Specific lower speed limits, typically 200 KIAS, apply in areas such as beneath Class B airspace, within certain Class C/D airport environments at low altitudes, for procedure turns, and during holding patterns, with variations based on altitude.
While ATC may issue speed adjustments, pilots are responsible for adhering to all regulatory speed limits and their aircraft's operating limitations, with the prerogative to refuse any speed adjustment deemed unsafe or contrary to regulations.

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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.