Speed Limit Offshore

[T-DOGGIN]

Looking for some legal input about offshore speed limits. If you are more than 12 miles offshore but on an arrival (such as those in S. FLA) are you required to be at or below 250kts out of 10,000? I know that class E only extends to 12 miles but it can include those areas required for seperation or as depicted (where it is depicted I'm not sure). I know that general pratice id as fast as you can till within 12 but is this really legal or just accepted?

 

[jknight8907]

Earlier today I read a post either on here or on a different aviation forum and a guy said that outside 12 there was no limit....take that for what it's worth.

 

[CUEBOAT]

ICAO law states you can never exceed 250 below 10,000. I called AOPA to find out since I couldn't find it anywhere else.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Never is a very strong word and in this case is totally incorrect. There are many instances when and where you can legally exceed 250 knots below 10,000 feet. 12 Miles offshore is just one of them. There are many countries that do not have this limit. Departing Heathrow ( and with ATC clearance ) we routinely accelerate to 300 plus out of 5000 feet. The contollers would prefer we do it sooner but our company limit is 250 below 5000 feet. In Taiwan I routinley held 320 knots to a 20 mile final. So lets change that word from never...


TP

 

[FoxHunter]

ICAO law states you can never exceed 250 below 10,000. I called AOPA to find out since I couldn't find it anywhere else.

Not sure where they got that. All nations have different limits. In the case of the UK Class A & B airspace have no limits if ATC says "no ATC speed restriction". The subject has been discussed at length in the ATC section at www.pprune.org.

 

[Pickle]

Yes, there IS a speed limit below 10,000 MSL and more than 12 miles from the shore of the US. It is the barber pole.

Funny story about that.....

I was at my old job, B727 freighter out of MIA. I was the F/O and pilot flying. One dark night, about 3:30 am we are coming back to MIA from Mexico. We are over the Everglades, so basically in the middle of the state of FLA, descending at barber pole, as usual. Passing 12,000 feet, I bring the nose up to desel, decell, descelle, err, SLOW DOWN, and the captain says something to the effect of "why are you slowing down??" I look at the guy like he is kidding. I mean, he is kidding, right?? Does he not have any idea of where we are?? I tell him that I am slowing to be at 250 KIAS below 10. He says "we are more than 12 miles offshore." Again, I think he is kidding. I say "those lights about 40 miles ahead of us, that is MIAMI, we are in the MIDDLE of the state!!" He freaks out, saying "well you better slow down, you have to slow down!!!!''

Way to keep track of where you are, dude. Just go back to sleep and leave me alone.

 

[Flechas]

Haha, good story! I agree, more than 12 NM offshore there is no limit, there is only a goal and it's the barberpole!

 

[OleGuy]

I agree, outside 12 miles there is no restriction. I have even had a controller ask me to keep my speed up til I was 12 out on FLA arrivals.

 

[cvsfly]

I can be really scared now flying small planes to the Bahamas. A bunch of cowboys going as fast as they can at low altitude just because they think they can and its cool. Save it for above 10,000', please. There is enough mid-air potential in FL as it is.

 

[JungleJetCA]

Curious on everyone's thoughts about the 12 miles being the limit. I understand that outside 12 miles is considered international waters but doesn't the FAA consider 3 miles the limit to their authority? And that is why Restricted Areas can only go up to 3 miles offshore before they have to be considered a Warning Area after that? Now, you can not go into a Restricted Area without permission but anyone can fly through a Warning Area at their own risk. Thus, would the 250 limit actually start after 3 miles instead of 12?