So in that case, the two speeds are on par. In that spirit, Cirrus Approach is an innovative training product designed to standardize and streamline the training experience in every Cirrus aircraft. If you took the FAA's recommendation, based on a Vso of 64 knots, you'd have 90 knots (1.4 X 64). At Cirrus Aircraft, we see each interaction as an opportunity to create the safest pilot possible through high quality and impactful training. In fact, many that we know fly base at 80 knots, which is 24 knots faster than what the FAA says.Įven if you fly a 80KIAS/70KIAS/60KIAS pattern, which some do, you're still 14 knots faster than the FAA's number.Īnd the Cirrus SR22T? 90 knots is the manufacturer recommended base leg speed. However, not too many people fly base at that speed in a 172. So according to the FAA, an appropriate base leg speed in a 172S would be 56 knots (1.4 X 40). So 70 knots is the speed you'd fly your base leg. According to the Airplane Flying Handbook, when you turn to your base leg, you should transition to a speed of 1.4 x Vso (again, only if your manufacturer doesn't recommend a speed).įor example, if your landing configuration stall speed (Vso) was 50 knots, 1.4 x Vso would be 70 knots. Your base leg is where the FAA starts recommending speeds. If you're flying a Cirrus SR22T (G5), the recommended speed for downwind is 100 knots. Some people like flying a little slower, and they start the pattern at 80 knots. If you're flying a Cessna 172, many people fly downwind at 90 knots (even though there isn't an official Cessna recommended downwind speed that we're aware of). The FAA doesn't recommend a speed on the downwind leg, but that doesn't mean you can fly as fast as you want. So if your manufacturer recommends a speed, you should stick to that. While the FAA has recommended speeds for the traffic pattern, they are clear that their recommendation always comes second to the manufacturer's recommended airspeeds. Let's take a look at what the FAA recommends, what a few of the manufacturers recommend, and how they compare. But have you ever thought about where those speeds came from? And your instructor taught you the speeds to fly each leg. When you're learning to fly, you make a lot of trips around the traffic pattern.
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