Airspeed Indicator Markings

The airspeed indicator carries the speed limits as colours. Besides its three bands and the never-exceed line it has a blue line and a second red line, both for flight with one engine inoperative.

At a glance

• Red line (never exceed)202 KTS
• Yellow band (smooth air only)169 – 202 KTS
• Green band (normal operating)57 – 169 KTS
• White band (flap down)55 – 111 KTS
• Blue line (one engine inop best rate of climb)88 KTS
• Red line (one engine inop VMCA)56 KTS

The bands

• White band — the flap-down range, 55 KTS to 111 KTS.

• Green band — the normal operating range, 57 KTS to 169 KTS.

• Yellow band — the caution range, 169 KTS to 202 KTS, for smooth air only.

The lines

• Red line at 202 KTS — never exceed.

• Blue line at 88 KTS — one engine inoperative best rate of climb speed.

• Red line at 56 KTS — one engine inoperative air minimum control speed.

Figure: Airspeed indicator markings (redrawn).

Each colour boundary is one of the limits in the airspeed table: the top of the white band is VFE (111), the top of the green is VNO (169), and the upper red line is VNE (202).

Check yourself

• What range does the white band cover, and what does it mean?

• Where does the green band end and the yellow band begin?

• What does the blue line mark, and at what speed?

• What does the lower red line mark, and at what speed?

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