Speed Restrictions

Regulatory speed limits for aircraft

• Unless otherwise authorized, no person may operate an aircraft below 10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed of more than 250 knots.

• Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no person may operate an aircraft at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots.

• No person may operate an aircraft in the airspace underlying a Class B airspace area designated for an airport or in a VFR corridor designated through such a Class B airspace area, at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots.

• 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.

7110.65 5-7

Speed adjustments are an important tool when sequencing and spacing aircraft. Adjustments can maintain spacing within a sequence and minimize additional vectors.

Allow increased time and distance to achieve speed adjustments in the following situations:

• Higher altitudes.

• Greater speed.

• Clean configurations.

Ensure that aircraft are allowed to operate in a clean configuration as long as circumstances permit.

Keep the number of speed adjustments per aircraft to the minimum required to achieve and maintain spacing.

At the time approach clearance or a climb via/descend via clearance is issued, previously assigned speeds must be restated if required.

Express speed adjustments in terms of knots based on indicated airspeed (IAS) in 5‐knot increments. e.x. 210, 215, 230

Phraseology

Before adjusting speed, if the controller is unsure of the aircraft's speed, they should ask: "SAY AIRSPEED."

The following are the accepted ways to instruct pilots of speed adjustments:

• Maintain present/specific speed.

  • “(callsign), MAINTAIN PRESENT SPEED"

  • MAINTAIN (specific speed) KNOTS.

    • “(callsign),Maintain 2-1-0 knots"

• Maintain a specified speed or greater/less.

  • MAINTAIN (specific speed) KNOTS OR GREATER.

    • “(callsign), Maintain 2-1-0 knots or greater"

  • DO NOT EXCEED (speed) KNOTS.

    • “(callsign), Do not exceed 2-1-0 knots"

• Maintain the highest/lowest practical speed.

  • “(callsign), MAINTAIN MAXIMUM FORWARD SPEED"

  • “(callsign), MAINTAIN SLOWEST PRACTICAL SPEED"

• Increase or reduce to a specified speed in single‐digit form or by a specified number of knots in group form.

  • INCREASE SPEED TO (specified speed in knots)

    • “(callsign), Increase speed to 2-3-0"

  • REDUCE SPEED TO (specified speed in knots)

    • “(callsign), Reduce speed to 1-9-0"

  • (number of knots) KNOTS.

    • “(callsign), Increase speed 20 (Twenty) Knots"

    • “(callsign), Decrease speed 30 (Thirty) Knots"

• Restrict the speed at a point.

  • CROSS (fix) AT AND MAINTAIN (altitude) AT (specified speed) KNOTS.

    • “(callsign), Cross BTG at and maintain 8,000 at 2-1-0 Knots"

Simultaneous speed reduction and descent can be extremely difficult, particularly for turbojet aircraft. Specifying which action is to be accomplished first removes any doubt the pilot may have as to controller intent or priority.

REDUCE SPEED TO (specified speed), THEN, DESCEND AND MAINTAIN (altitude).

• “(callsign), Reduce speed to 2-1-0, THEN descend and maintain 4,000"

When speed adjustments are no longer needed: "RESUME NORMAL SPEED."

Limitations

Do not restrict speeds inside the final approach fix on final or a point 5 miles from the runway, whichever is closer to the runway.

Arrivals below 10,000 feet:

Turbojet aircraft: Assign a speed not less than 210 knots, or 170 knots when the aircraft is within 20 flying miles of the runway threshold.

Reciprocating and turboprop aircraft: Assign a speed not less than 200 knots, or 150 knots when the aircraft is within 20 flying miles of the runway threshold.

Departures:

Turbojet aircraft: assign a speed not less than 230 knots.

Reciprocating and turboprop aircraft: assign a speed not less than 150 knots.

To any helicopters: Assign a speed not less than 60 knots.

Lower speeds may be assigned when operationally advantageous.

This applies to Arrivals and departures