CFI Notebook

Overview

Just as motor vehicles have maximum operating speed limits, aircraft have similar limitations with which they must comply.

Speed	Application	Regulation
Minimum Speed for Safe Flight	Always	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
Mach 1.0	Always, except in compliance with 14 CFR § 91 Appendix B: Authorizations To Exceed Mach 1 (§91.817)	14 CFR § 91.817 Civil aircraft sonic boom.
265 KIAS	Holding Patterns above 14,000 ft. MSL	Aeronautical Information Manual Table 5–3–1
250 KIAS	Below 10,000 ft. MSL	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
250 KIAS	Class B Airspace	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
230 KIAS	Holding Patterns from 6,001 ft. MSL to 14,000 ft. MSL	Aeronautical Information Manual Table 5–3–1
200 KIAS	Below Class B Airspace	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
	VFR Corridor through Class B	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
	Class C and D Airspace below 2,500 ft. AGL within 4 NM of primary airport	14 CFR § 91.117 Aircraft speed.
	Traffic Patterns	AC 90-66A Standard Traffic Patterns at Airports Without Operating Control Towers, p. 3
	Holding Patterns at 6,000 ft. MSL and below	Aeronautical Information Manual Table 5–3–1
	Procedure Turns	Aeronautical Information Manual 5–4–9