Speed Limit

[tgrayson]

The administrator's approval usually means that if it is unsafe to fly a certain aircraft clean wing below 250 knots then they get approval for that make/model to waive the speed restriction.

The regulation already contains an exemption for aircraft that can't safely fly that slow, so it's not clear to me that the Administrator needs to authorize anything.

However, there was an experiement years ago whereby Houston ATC was granted the authority by the Administrator to waive the 250 speed restriction as a test, but that authority was later rescinded.

 

[falcon20pilot]

I was referring to the wording of 91.117:

"Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator"

I now read 91.117(d) you are correct it automatically authorizes it if the minimum safe speed is greater than 250. I need to read these more often.

 

[tgrayson]

The administrator authorized it when they wrote the regulation. NO?

No, the regulations don't refer to other regulations that way; it would say something like "unless otherwise authorized by this Part...". They're referring to specific exemptions given by the FAA in documents outside the regulations, such as the Houston example I provided.

 

[puddlejumper]

I've had New York approach yell at me for slowing because we were under the bravo. "You can't just slow down without me telling you to!", "We've been vectored under the bravo", "Roger".

A lot of those arrivals have a big ol note on them, "NOTIFY ATC PRIOR TO SLOWING LESS THAN 250 KIAS." Or words to that effect.

I've heard Atlanta Approach ask, "Say indicated airspeed" while going into FTY or PDK. It gets pretty congested going into those satellite airports and they have no control over all the VFRs below the class B. See and avoid is a lot easier at 200 kias. They really should let you know when they've descended you out of the class B though. Not everyone handles it well when you start slowing and they have no idea of the speed limit themselves (certain pilots or ATC). :dunno:

 

[mikecweb]

A lot of those arrivals have a big ol note on them, "NOTIFY ATC PRIOR TO SLOWING LESS THAN 250 KIAS." Or words to that effect.

I've heard Atlanta Approach ask, "Say indicated airspeed" while going into FTY or PDK. It gets pretty congested going into those satellite airports and they have no control over all the VFRs below the class B. See and avoid is a lot easier at 200 kias. They really should let you know when they've descended you out of the class B though. Not everyone handles it well when you start slowing and they have no idea of the speed limit themselves (certain pilots or ATC). :dunno:

I've seen that once or twice but what if you are off the arrival which is usually the case when they put you under the bravo?

 

[puddlejumper]

Good point Mike. I didn't really think of that.

The system is rather messed up, in that ATC's vertical planning forces arrivals to go under the class b in the first place and there is no real system for them to let pilots know so they can obey the reduced speed limit.

Situational awareness is one thing, but having to refer to visual landmarks while IFR in some instances to determine where you are in or under a class B is pretty goofy.