What is a good airspeed for starting a landing approach? How do I determine the correct airspeed?

Question

Any type of aircraft. (Cessna, Boeing....)

Answer 1

As you will have found out by now, it depends on the airplane.  In a Cessna 152, you want to slow to about 80 knots on downwind opposite your intended point of touchdown, and extend 10 degrees flap.  You then make your base and final legs at 70 knots and increase flaps as needed.

The Pilot's Operating Handbook and the checklists are in the cockpit of almost all airplanes, and you will find the numbers there.

If you were doing the same traffic pattern approach at an uncontrolled airport (and it is done more often than you think) in a Boeing 747-400, your downwind leg would be at about 4,000 feet AGL and 7 or 8 miles out, and you would slow to 300 knots opposite touchdown point and put down 10 degrees flap.

You would come down final as slow as you safely can, but it will be around 180-200 knots.  You would need a 7,000 foot reinforced concrete runway, but they do exist.  Hah!  What a trip!

Answer 2

All aircraft had specific speeds for different maneuvers... and they are all in the INSTRUCTION MANUAL for that particular plane.

There is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL ANSWER... it depends ENTIRELY on the plane and other factors.

Answer 3

Would have to be at the speed the type of aircraft can deploy its flaps. You wouldn't want to be making a landing at cruise. ;-)

Answer 4

Way too open. Anywhere from 60 knots for a C-172 or C-150 to 180 i believe for a 747

Answer 5

It really all depends on the aircraft you are flying, the wind speed/direction, etc. There are a lot of Boeing aircraft, so Boeing is too general.  

Answer 6

It would depend on the type of aircraft, load, weather and the configuration of the aircraft when you start your landing approach.

Generally for the smaller aircraft the typical speeds are in the region of 60-70 knots, while for larger ones in the vicinity of 180-200 knots.

Answer 7

too open of a question.

I need specific aircraft

I need specific weather.

but for a c-172 entry into the pattern at 100kn is a good start point

Answer 8

well i've heard of something like, to figure out your approach speed, you multiply the stalling speed by 1.3 and your answer will be your approach speed. The equation looks like this  1.3Vso

Vso refers to full flaps and landing gear extended with maximum gross weight. If your not at the maximum weight, then you should land at a lower speed than that

Answer 9

Landing would depend on many conditions such as load factor, wind, aircraft type but usually it is mentioned on the FMC at the PERF section under approach VFR. It shud range from 130kts to 180kts depending on your aircraft and the other factors.

Answer 10

Approach speed for commercial is 160 knots to 4 DME [air miles].

Cessnas - no idea!

Answer 11

1.3 times Vso.  That works in many aircraft, however, the proper way is to do what it says in the POH.

Answer 12

OK, I assume you are trying to figure out various aircraft on Flight Simulator or a similar program and I will not bother with a lot of details, so don't use this method in a real airplaane. As mentioned by others, each type of plane has a specific recommended range of speeds, but there is a rough method that will get you within the "ball park".

If it is a single engine airplane, a good rule of thumb is to look at the airspeed indicator, find the lower end of the green arc, and add 10 knots. If the airplane has flaps, this speed should also fall within the white arc, so that when you add flaps, you do not over-stress them.

If it is a multi-engine airplane, a good "rule-of-thumb" is to refer to the blue radial on the airspeed indicator (best single engine rate of climb speed) and add 10 knots. This is usually the slowest practical approach speed until you are very close to the runway and it usually requires an intermediate flap setting and gear down to get that slow and be in a normal flight attitude.

Some airplanes do not have these markings, but this will get you started. In real life, initial approach speeds on an instrument approach when you are more than 5 miles out are usually higher. In turboprops and jets 150-170 knots is not uncommon. By the time the final approach fix has been reached (approx 5 miles out), the aircraft is slowed to the normal approach speed.  

Answer 13

Definitely not cruise speed!  I would worry about length of landing strip.......