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 in the US are generally limited to 250 KIAS below 10,000 feet MSL, with even lower limits (e.g., 200 KIAS) within specific airport airspaces like Class C/D or beneath Class B.
Above 10,000 feet MSL, speeds are unrestricted (below Mach 1) unless a specific restriction is issued by ATC.
Pilots are responsible for adhering to all regulatory speed limits, which ATC cannot authorize them to violate, and pilots may refuse speed adjustments they deem excessive or unsafe.
Specific maximum holding pattern speeds are defined by altitude, ranging from 200 KIAS at 6,000 feet MSL and below, up to 265 KIAS above 14,000 feet MSL.

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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.