Do airplanes have to follow speed limits?

Question

I was driving today and noticed a plane flying overhead while I was stopped at a red light, which got me thinking: are there speed limits for airplanes?

Answer 1

SORRY BELLA BUT ALL OF THE OTHER ANSWERS ARE PATHETIC. (Charles M's was correct, I just expanded on it)

Yes, aircraft have several speed limits they have to adhere to. The biggest one is while below 10,000 above sea level, we have to remain below 250 knots, which is about 290 MPH. The two main reasons are for collision avoidance with other aircraft and, in case there was a bird strike, it would minimize damage. The other main limit is 200 knots, or 230 MPH while flying near airports low to the ground, usually below 3,000 feet.(there are some exceptions to this rule, but that's most of it, this rule is also for collision avoidance) And each aircraft has their own speed limit that they can't exceed or they could crash. There is the rule about breaking the sound barrier over the continental US, but the only plane that could do this (except for military aircraft) was the Concorde and it doesn't fly any more.

And we can get a "ticket" in which the FAA could suspend your license if they desire.

Answer 2

Airplane Speed Limit

Answer 3

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The car in front is called a "front door" and this idea is as at least as old a the 1970s.....The problem is cops often work in teams and can clock both of you, not using a radar, but a laser, which can clock each individual car. Or the cop can come up from behind you and clock you. Or they use an airplane and clock you both. As far as a bunch of cars, the airplane can see that they are working as a group and after he confirms you are all moving at the same speed, they pull you all over and give you all a ticket. Radar detectors do not detect anything if the cop is not using his radar. Many of the newer units are instant on...The cop waits until he sees a car that appears to be speeding and he pulls the trigger, tagging that one car. By the time your radar detector goes off, it is too late. Radar detectors do nothing to help with lasers either and they also come in instant on modes. If you do not want a speeding ticket, do not speed. Besides running the risk of a ticket, AND the fact you are using a lot more gas, it really does not save you any time unless you are driving really long distances. Lets say you got 100 miles to go...If you drive 50 mph, it will take you two hours. If you drive 70 mph, it will take you just under 1.5 hours.....So a 20 mph increase saves you a half hour. Now you are driving at the speed limit......If you drive 80 mph it will take you 1.25 hours. One and a quarter hours....you save 15 minutes but risk a ticket and you are burning up gas like crazy. Not really worth it unless you are driving 1000 miles, in which case it will save you 2.5 hours. .

Answer 4

Yes, they do. Pilots have to respect airspeed limits and many other traffic rules. Speed limits vary from 250 Kt to unlimited, depending upon the class of the airspace and the type of the flight (visual or instrumental). But these limits are not rigid, and it is possible to get authorization to break them.

Pilots do not pay attention to speed limits very often, because flight routes are planned to optimize commercial aircraft performance, and commercial aircraft performance are designed to optimize traffic flow. So, pilots use to be more concerned about aircraft performance speeds than about speed limits. Respecting the first, they Will respect the other.

Each aircraft has a minimum speed below which it cannot fly. This velocity depends on the configuration of the flaps and the landing gear, and on the loading of the aircraft. Pilots are trained to keep speed above it no matter what.

To break the sound speed, civil aircraft need special authorization.

Answer 5

Dan's got it right Bella.

While you have to maintain enough speed to stay in the air, there are apparent limits to how fast you can go.

You won't get a speeding ticket like I have multiple times while going to work.

You'll just get your license suspended and I'm sure of a hefty fine from the FAA!

Good question, we've all learned something today!

Answer 6

yes, if they go too slow, they'll stall and fall from the sky, other than that, they got some speed restriction if flying in some airspace, and below 10.000', they cant fly more than 200 knots. theres a regulation for that look for Federal Aviation Regulation in FAA.gov

Answer 7

In the US you cant exceed 250 knots below 10,000ft unless allowed by ATC. This is the only restriction I can think off. Other than that the pilot is free to fly at what he deems a safe speed.

Answer 8

Planes have to fly at a certain speed to manage the fuel. Could you imagine running low on fuel on the way to Australia? It's a 12 hour flight.

Answer 9

There was a demon that lived in the air. They said whoever challenged him would die. Their controls would freeze up, their planes would buffet wildly, and they would disintegrate. The demon lived at Mach 1 on the meter, seven hundred and fifty miles an hour, where the air could no longer move out of the way. He lived behind a barrier through which they said no man could ever pass. They called it the sound barrier.

Answer 10

yes thSPEED LIMITS : (91.117, 97.3, AIM 3-2-4d.5., 3-2-5b.5., 4-4-11, 5-3-7, 5-4-8, 5-5-9, AC 90-66A, Controller’s Handbook
7110.65, Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3)
.. Below 10,000 ft......................................................... 250 KIAS
.. Class B ..................................................................... 250 KIAS below 10,000 ft (unrestricted at or above 10,000)
.. Beneath Class B....................................................... 200 KIAS (or in VFR corridor through a Class B)
.. Procedure Turn......................................................... 200 KIAS
.. Class C or D (below 2,500 AGL within 4NM of the airport) .... 200 (unless a higher speed is specifically approved by ATC)
.. Class E or G Airport Traffic Pattern.......................... 200 KIAS (recommended)
SPEED RESTRICTION / ADJUSTMENT: (AIM 4-4-11)
1. If a controller issues a speed restriction while vectoring you, it continues to apply with an altitude
change.
2. An approach clearance cancels any previously assigned speed adjustment (however the controller
would not anticipate a large speed INCREASE when close to the runway). Pilots are expected to make
their own speed adjustments to complete the approach unless the adjustments are restated. Speed
adjustments should not be assigned inside the final approach fix on final or a point 5 miles from the
runway, whichever is closer to the runway.
3. It is the pilot’s responsibility and prerogative, to refuse a speed adjustment that he or she considers
excessive or contrary to the aircraft’s operating limitations with a comfortable margin for safety.
SPEED BELOW 10,000 and/or in CLASS B: (91.117, 91.1)
1. Speed — 250 KIAS below 10,000 feet (or 200 KIAS below the floor or in VFR corridor). 250 KNOTS
MUST NOT be EXCEEDED even if you are told to “MAINTAIN BEST FORWARD SPEED.”
2. “Maintain maximum (or best) forward speed” — means — “maximum or best forward ‘LEGAL’ speed.”
ATC does not have the authority to lift the 250 below 10,000 speed restriction [91.117(a)]. You cannot
be cleared to violate a regulation, and you cannot accept such a clearance.
3. At 10,000 feet and above, in Class B airspace, you can go as fast as you want unless issued a
speed restriction by ATC.
4. If a controller assigns you 300 kts or greater inbound (10,000 or above), and then later descends you to
8,000, it is UNDERSTOOD that you must SLOW to 250 kts BEFORE descending below 10,000.
5. NOTE: There was a test program that took place at HOUSTON International (IAH) to delete the 250 kts
below 10,000 for DEPARTURES only, AND only if authorized by ATC. The phraseology was “NO
SPEED LIMIT” or “INCREASE SPEED TO (number) KNOTS” or “DELETE the 250 kt
RESTRICTION” or “CLIMB UNRESTRICTED” or “HIGH SPEED CLIMB APPROVED”. This program
was cancelled in January of 2004. Currently an air traffic controller does not have the authority to
authorize a speed above 250 kts below 10,000 anywhere in the United States.
6. The speed restriction of 250 kts below 10,000 does not apply to aircraft operating beyond 12 NM
from the coastline within the U.S. Flight Information Region [91.1(a)&(b)].
SPEED in CLASS C, D, E and G Airport Areas: (91.117, AC 90-66A, FAA-H-8083-3)
1. Unless otherwise authorized or required by ATC, no aircraft may operate at or below 2,500 AGL within
4 NM of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots.
2. “…maintain best forward speed” is NOT an authorization to exceed the 200 kts in Class C or D.
3. Any speed deviation above 200 kts must be specifically assigned by ATC (e.g. “…maintain 220 kts”).
4. It is “RECOMMENDED” that while operating in the traffic pattern at an airport WITHOUT an operating
control tower the pilot maintain an airspeed of no more than 200 knots. In any case, the speed should
be adjusted, when practicable, so that it is compatible with the speed of other airplanes in the pattern.
Never let an airplane take you someplace your brain didn’t get to five minutes earlier.
Chap 4 — Speed, Altitude & Jet
91.117(d) — If the minimum safe airspeed for any particular operation is greater than the maximum speed prescribed in this section, theey do