Aero-Tips!

A good pilot is always learning -- how many times have you heard this old standard throughout your flying career? There is no truer statement in all of flying (well, with the possible exception of "there are no old, bold pilots.")

Aero-News has called upon the expertise of Thomas P. Turner, master CFI and all-around-good-guy, to bring our readers -- and us -- daily tips to improve our skills as aviators. Some of them, you may have heard before... but for each of us, there will also be something we might never have considered before, or something that didn't "stick" the way it should have the first time we memorized it for the practical test.

Look for our daily Aero-Tips segments, coming each day to you through the Aero-News Network.

Aero-Tips 06.25.06

Oh the irony! Pilots live for two things -- time in their logbooks, and speed across the ground. The two goals are almost counterproductive.

There are times when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) kindly permits pilots of turbine and very high-performance piston-engine airplanes more time to enjoy flight and to record in their logbooks. Here are the speed limits for various airspace:

• Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator (i.e., you have some sort of wavier from the FAA, for instance in an organized air race), no person may operate an aircraft:
• below 10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed of more than 250 knots (288 mph).
• at or below 2,500 feet above the surface within four nautical miles of the primary airport of a Class C or Class D airspace area at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph.). This limit does not apply if the airport is within Class B airspace.
• • Note: Air Traffic Control (ATC) can waive the Class C/D speed limit for specific airplanes.
• in airspace underlying Class B airspace or in a VFR corridor through Class B airspace at an indicated airspeed of more than 200 knots (230 mph).

All airspeeds are indicated. Read the airspeed indicator; don't worry about True Air Speed in this context.

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.

Aero-tip of the day: As in all things aviation, know your limits -- especially speed limits in various airspace, if you fly a fast ship.

FMI: Aero-Tips