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Fox Xray · November 18th, 2007, 11:27

Wow... this is some thread, took me about 15 minutes to read through it... LOL.

As a controller I cannot clear an A/C to exceed 250 knots below 10K, an exception is when they are more then 12nm offshore (more on that later).

Obviously in the case of an emergency or something similar that is not true. A few weeks back I had an A/C declare a medical emergency, pilot had a passenger that needed immediate medical attention. I cleared him direct to the airport, speed his discretion, I basically told him to do what you need to do to try and save this person.

You would be surprised how many pilots bust the speed as in the situation in the original post. Now... I have no way to see airspeed, I only see ground speed. As long as the speed I show is similar to the other A/C I consider it good.

I work sectors where I have to feed approach A/C descending out of FL's to below 10k; as a personal technique I usually clear the pilot to cross the approach fix at 250 knots right before I ship them when I have them speed restricted. In the case presented here I would have the A/C speed restricted (the speed 300 would be noted in the 4th line of my data block) and following approach taking the handoff I would clear the A/C ... cross XXXXX at 250 knots, contact approach XXX.XX. The reason is twofold, first I ensure I am feeding approach according the the LOA and second it's a reminder to the flight crew.

The 7110.65 states that 250 below 10K does not apply to offshore A/C (more then 12nm). There was a post on this forum a while back where the poster had a link to a letter from a FAA procedures office saying that at no time can A/C break 250 below 10K regardless of 12nm offshore. As long as it is still in the 7110.65 I consider it legal. The international flight crews (foreign and domestic) all seem to know about this rule, they will routinely break 250 below 10K until they reach the 12nm area.

I've seen 747-400's to ERJ's blow this type of restriction... it happens. When something like this happens and there is no harm I chalk it up to a good lesson learned.

November 18th, 2007, 11:27	#46
Fox Xray ATC Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 419	Re: Speed Question Wow... this is some thread, took me about 15 minutes to read through it... LOL. As a controller I cannot clear an A/C to exceed 250 knots below 10K, an exception is when they are more then 12nm offshore (more on that later). Obviously in the case of an emergency or something similar that is not true. A few weeks back I had an A/C declare a medical emergency, pilot had a passenger that needed immediate medical attention. I cleared him direct to the airport, speed his discretion, I basically told him to do what you need to do to try and save this person. You would be surprised how many pilots bust the speed as in the situation in the original post. Now... I have no way to see airspeed, I only see ground speed. As long as the speed I show is similar to the other A/C I consider it good. I work sectors where I have to feed approach A/C descending out of FL's to below 10k; as a personal technique I usually clear the pilot to cross the approach fix at 250 knots right before I ship them when I have them speed restricted. In the case presented here I would have the A/C speed restricted (the speed 300 would be noted in the 4th line of my data block) and following approach taking the handoff I would clear the A/C ... cross XXXXX at 250 knots, contact approach XXX.XX. The reason is twofold, first I ensure I am feeding approach according the the LOA and second it's a reminder to the flight crew. The 7110.65 states that 250 below 10K does not apply to offshore A/C (more then 12nm). There was a post on this forum a while back where the poster had a link to a letter from a FAA procedures office saying that at no time can A/C break 250 below 10K regardless of 12nm offshore. As long as it is still in the 7110.65 I consider it legal. The international flight crews (foreign and domestic) all seem to know about this rule, they will routinely break 250 below 10K until they reach the 12nm area. I've seen 747-400's to ERJ's blow this type of restriction... it happens. When something like this happens and there is no harm I chalk it up to a good lesson learned.