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 must generally not exceed 250 knots indicated airspeed (kias) below 10,000 feet MSL, with further restrictions to 200 kias in specific airspaces (e.g., beneath Class B, within 4nm/2,500ft AGL of Class C/D primary airports). Above 10,000 feet MSL, speeds are unrestricted up to Mach 1.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) cannot authorize pilots to exceed regulatory speed limits; pilots are legally obligated to adhere to these limits, even if given instructions like "maintain best forward speed."
Pilots have the responsibility and prerogative to refuse any speed adjustment deemed unsafe or contrary to the aircraft's operating limitations.
An approach clearance generally cancels any previously assigned speed adjustment, and specific maximum holding pattern speeds apply based on altitude, ranging from 200 kias below 6,000 feet MSL 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.