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 are generally limited to 250 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) below 10,000 feet MSL in the U.S., with further reductions to 200 KIAS for operations beneath Class B airspace, within Class C/D primary airport areas, and in traffic patterns.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) cannot authorize pilots to exceed regulatory speed limits (e.g., 250 KIAS below 10,000 feet MSL), and pilots are responsible for adhering to these limits and may refuse unsafe speed adjustments.
An approach clearance typically cancels previous speed adjustments, requiring pilots to manage their own speed for the approach, and specific maximum speeds apply to holding patterns based on altitude.

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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.