Normal Operating Speeds

Almost every speed in normal operations comes in a pair — one figure up to 1999 kg and a higher one above it. Two speeds break the pattern by being the same at every mass, and those two are worth noticing first.

At a glance

• vR (flaps UP)minimum 80 KIAS at every mass
• vR (flaps T/O)minimum 76 / 78 KIAS
• vY (flaps UP)87 / 89 KIAS
• vY (flaps T/O)83 / 86 KIAS
• vX (flaps T/O)minimum 83 / 86 KIAS
• Cruise climb (flaps UP)minimum 93 / 96 KIAS
• Reference landing approach (flaps UP)91 / 95 KIAS
• Reference landing approach (flaps T/O)minimum 88 / 91 KIAS
• Final approach (flaps LDG)minimum 84 / 89 KIAS
• Go around (flaps UP)minimum 91 / 95 KIAS
• vSSE (flaps UP)86 KIAS at every mass

Where two figures are given, the first applies up to 1999 kg (4407 lb) and the second above it.

Take-off and climb

• Rotation speed vR, flaps UP — minimum 80 KIAS at every mass.

• Rotation speed vR, flaps T/O — minimum 76 KIAS up to 1999 kg (4407 lb), minimum 78 KIAS above it.

• Take-off climb, best rate of climb vY, flaps UP — minimum 87 KIAS up to 1999 kg, minimum 89 KIAS above it.

• Take-off climb, best angle of climb vX, flaps T/O — minimum 83 KIAS up to 1999 kg, minimum 86 KIAS above it.

• Best rate of climb vY — flaps UP 87 KIAS up to 1999 kg and 89 KIAS above it; flaps T/O 83 KIAS up to 1999 kg and 86 KIAS above it.

• Cruise climb, flaps UP — minimum 93 KIAS up to 1999 kg, minimum 96 KIAS above it.

Approach, landing and go around

• Reference landing approach speed — flaps UP 91 KIAS up to 1999 kg and 95 KIAS above it; flaps T/O minimum 88 KIAS up to 1999 kg and minimum 91 KIAS above it.

• Final approach speed, flaps LDG — minimum 84 KIAS up to 1999 kg, minimum 89 KIAS above it.

• Minimum speed during a go around, flaps UP — minimum 91 KIAS up to 1999 kg, minimum 95 KIAS above it.

The training speed

vSSE, the safe intentional one-engine-inoperative speed — the minimum speed at which the critical engine may deliberately be made inoperative — is 86 KIAS with flaps UP, at every mass.

Rotation with flaps up and vSSE are the two speeds that do not change with mass. Everything else on this page does.

Check yourself

• What is vR with flaps T/O at 2100 kg, and with flaps UP at the same mass?

• Which two speeds are the same at every mass?

• What is the final approach speed with flaps LDG above 1999 kg?

• What does vSSE mean, and what is its value?

• What is the cruise climb speed up to 1999 kg?

Study aid — always fly your aircraft's current AFM/POH.