JO 7110.65 Air Traffic ControlJO 7110.65BB · Change 3 · Effective 7/9/2026
Chapter 5 · Section 7
Speed Adjustment
4 Paragraphs5-7-1–5-7-4
5-7-1 APPLICATION
Keep speed adjustments to the minimum necessary to achieve or maintain required or desired spacing. Avoid adjustments requiring alternate decreases and increases. Terminate speed adjustments when no longer needed.
NOTE
It is the pilot's responsibility and prerogative to refuse speed adjustment that he/she considers excessive or contrary to the aircraft's operating specifications.
Consider the following when applying speed control:
Determine the interval required and the point at which the interval is to be accomplished.
Implement speed adjustment based on the following principles.
Priority of speed adjustment instructions is determined by the relative speed and position of the aircraft involved and the spacing requirement.
Speed adjustments are not achieved instantaneously. Aircraft configuration, altitudes, and speed determine the time and distance required to accomplish the adjustment.
Use the following techniques in speed control situations:
Compensate for compression when assigning air speed adjustment in an in‐trail situation by using one of the following techniques:
Reduce the trailing aircraft first.
Increase the leading aircraft first.
Assign a specific airspeed if required to maintain spacing.
Allow increased time and distance to achieve speed adjustments in the following situations:
Higher altitudes.
Greater speed.
Clean configurations.
Ensure that aircraft are allowed to operate in a clean configuration as long as circumstances permit.
Keep the number of speed adjustments per aircraft to the minimum required to achieve and maintain spacing.
Do not assign speed adjustment to aircraft:
At or above FL 390 without pilot consent.
Executing a published high altitude instrument approach procedure.
In a holding pattern.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-6-4, Holding Instructions.
Inside the final approach fix on final or a point 5 miles from the runway, whichever is closer to the runway.
At the time approach clearance or a climb via/descend via clearance is issued, previously assigned speeds must be restated if required.
Approach clearances or climb via/descend via clearances cancel any previously assigned speeds. Pilots are expected to make their own speed adjustments to fly the approach, SID, or STAR unless assigned speeds are restated.
NOTE
Pilots are required to comply with published speed restrictions.
A speed restriction published as part of a SID/STAR is canceled when an aircraft is vectored off, or a deviation from the SID/STAR is approved. If necessary, assign a speed in conjunction with the vector or approval to deviate.
NOTE
The last published speed on a STAR will be maintained by the aircraft until ATC deletes it, assigns a new speed, issues a vector, assigns a direct route or issues an approach clearance.
When issuing speed adjustments to aircraft cleared along a route or procedure that has published speed restrictions, if feasible, advise the pilot where you intend on allowing the aircraft to resume the published speed.
NOTE
If it is anticipated that an aircraft will be allowed to resume the published speeds on a procedure, advising the pilot where that may occur avoids flight crews from unnecessarily deleting speeds from the Flight Management System.
Express speed adjustments in terms of knots based on indicated airspeed (IAS) in 5‐knot increments. At or above FL 240, speeds may be expressed in terms of Mach numbers in 0.01 increments for aircraft with Mach meters (Mach 0.69, 0.70, 0.71, etc.).
NOTE
1. Pilots complying with speed adjustment instructions (published or assigned) should maintain a speed within plus or minus 10 knots or 0.02 Mach number of the specified speed. 2. When assigning speeds to achieve spacing between aircraft at different altitudes, consider that ground speed may vary with altitude. Further speed adjustment may be necessary to attain the desired spacing. 3. Controllers should anticipate pilots will begin adjusting speed at the minimum distance necessary prior to a published speed restriction so as to cross the waypoint/fix at the published speed. Once at the published speed, controllers should expect pilots will maintain the published speed until additional adjustment is required to comply with further published restrictions or ATC assigned speed restrictions.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-6-1, Application. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-7-2, Methods.
5-7-2 METHODS
Instruct aircraft to:
Maintain present/specific speed.
Maintain specified speed or greater/less.
Maintain the highest/lowest practical speed.
Increase or reduce to a specified speed in single‐digit form or by a specified number of knots in group form.
PHRASEOLOGY
SAY AIRSPEED. SAY MACH NUMBER. MAINTAIN PRESENT SPEED. MAINTAIN (specific speed) KNOTS. MAINTAIN (specific speed) KNOTS OR GREATER. DO NOT EXCEED (speed) KNOTS. MAINTAIN MAXIMUM FORWARD SPEED. MAINTAIN SLOWEST PRACTICAL SPEED. INCREASE/REDUCE SPEED: TO (specified speed in knots), or TO MACH (Mach number), or (number of knots) KNOTS.
EXAMPLE
“Increase speed to Mach point seven two.” “Reduce speed to two five zero.” “Reduce speed twenty knots.” “Maintain two eight zero knots.” “Maintain maximum forward speed.”
NOTE
1. A pilot operating at or above 10,000 feet MSL on an assigned speed adjustment greater than 250 knots is expected to comply with 14 CFR section 91.117(a) when cleared below 10,000 feet MSL, within domestic airspace, without notifying ATC. Pilots are expected to comply with the other provisions of 14 CFR section 91.117 without notification. 2. Speed restrictions of 250 knots do not apply to aircraft operating beyond 12 NM from the coastline within the U.S. Flight Information Region, in offshore Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL. However, in airspace underlying a Class B airspace area designated for an airport, or in a VFR corridor designated through such a Class B airspace area, pilots are expected to comply with the 200 knot speed limit specified in 14 CFR section 91.117(c). (See 14 CFR sections 91.117(c) and 91.703.) 3. The phrases “maintain maximum forward speed” and “maintain slowest practical speed” are primarily intended for use when sequencing a group of aircraft. As the sequencing plan develops, it may be necessary to determine the specific speed and/or make specific speed assignments.
To obtain pilot concurrence for a speed adjustment at or above FL 390, as required by paragraph 5-7-1, Application, use the following phraseology.
PHRASEOLOGY
(Speed adjustment), IF UNABLE ADVISE.
EXAMPLE
“Reduce speed to one niner zero, if unable advise.”
Simultaneous speed reduction and descent can be extremely difficult, particularly for turbojet aircraft. Specifying which action is to be accomplished first removes any doubt the pilot may have as to controller intent or priority. Specify which action is expected first when combining speed reduction with a descent clearance.
Speed reductions prior to descent.
PHRASEOLOGY
REDUCE SPEED: TO (specified speed), or (number of knots) KNOTS. THEN, DESCEND AND MAINTAIN (altitude).
Speed reduction following descent.
PHRASEOLOGY
DESCEND AND MAINTAIN (altitude). THEN, REDUCE SPEED: TO (specified speed in knots), or TO MACH (Mach number), or (number of knots) KNOTS.
NOTE
When specifying descent prior to speed reduction, consider the maximum speed requirements specified in 14 CFR section 91.117. It may be necessary for the pilot to level off temporarily and reduce speed prior to descending below 10,000 feet MSL.
Specify combined speed/altitude fix crossing restrictions.
PHRASEOLOGY
CROSS (fix) AT AND MAINTAIN (altitude) AT (specified speed) KNOTS.
EXAMPLE
“Cross Robinsville at and maintain six thousand at two three zero knots.”
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-4-17, Numbers Usage. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-5-7, Altitude Information.
When issuing speed adjustments to aircraft cleared on procedures with published speed restrictions, specify the point at which the issued restriction begins, ends, or changes the published restrictions.
PHRASEOLOGY
CROSS (fix/waypoint) AT (speed). MAINTAIN (speed) UNTIL (fix/waypoint), THEN (additional instructions). RESUME PUBLISHED SPEED. COMPLY WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS. (if required) EXCEPT (alternate instructions). DELETE SPEED RESTRICTIONS. CLIMB/DESCEND VIA (SID/STAR name and number) (transition if required.)
NOTE
1. Aircraft will meet all published speed restrictions when on any route or procedure with published speed restrictions regardless of climb via or descend via clearance. 2. Due to variations of aircraft types, Flight Management Systems, and environmental conditions, ATC should anticipate that aircraft will begin speed adjustments atvarying locations along cleared routes or procedures that contain published speed restrictions. 3. Issuing speed adjustments to aircraft flying procedures with published speed restrictions may impact the pilot's ability to fly the intended flight profile of the procedure.
EXAMPLE
“Cross Alisa at two two zero knots, then climb via the TIMMY One departure.”
NOTE
The aircraft will maintain the ATC assigned speed until Alisa waypoint and will then comply with the speed restrictions on the TIMMY One departure.
EXAMPLE
“Cross Alisa at one zero thousand, then climb via the TIMMY One departure, except maintain two two zero knots.”
NOTE
The aircraft will maintain the ATC assigned speed of two two zero knots and will not meet any published speed restrictions. Aircraft will meet all published altitude restrictions after Alisa.
EXAMPLE
“Maintain two two zero knots until BALTR then resume published speed.”
NOTE
The ATC assigned speed assignment of two two zero knots would apply until BALTR. The aircraft would then comply with the published speed restrictions.
EXAMPLE
“Descend via the KEPEC Two arrival, except after NIPZO maintain one eight zero knots.”
NOTE
The aircraft will comply with all published restrictions. After NIPZO, the aircraft will continue to comply with altitude restrictions, but will comply with the ATC assigned speed adjustment.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-4-17, Numbers Usage. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-5-7, Altitude Information. FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-7-1, Application.
5-7-3 SPEED ASSIGNMENTS
When assigning airspeeds, use the following:
To aircraft operating between FL 280 and 10,000 feet, a speed not less than 250 knots or the equivalent Mach number.
NOTE
1. On a standard day the Mach numbers equivalent to 250 knots calibrated airspeed (CAS) (subject to minor variations) are: FL 240-0.6 FL 250-0.61 FL 260-0.62 FL 270-0.64 FL 280-0.65 FL 290-0.66. 2. A pilot will advise if unable to comply with the speed assignment.
To aircraft operating beneath Class B airspace or in a VFR corridor designated through Class B airspace: assign a speed not more than 200 knots.
To arrival aircraft operating below 10,000 feet:
Turbojet aircraft:
Assign a speed not less than 210 knots, except for the aircraft as specified in subparagraph b above, or
Assign a speed not less than 170 knots when the aircraft is within 20 flying miles of the runway threshold.
Reciprocating and turboprop aircraft:
Assign a speed not less than 200 knots, or
Assign a speed not less than 150 knots when the aircraft is within 20 flying miles of the runway threshold.
To departures:
Turbojet aircraft: assign a speed not less than 230 knots.
Reciprocating and turboprop aircraft: assign a speed not less than 150 knots.
To helicopters: Assign a speed not less than 60 knots.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-7-2, Methods.
Lower speeds may be assigned when operationally advantageous.
NOTE
1. A pilot operating at or above 10,000 feet MSL on an assigned speed adjustment greater than 250 knots is expected to comply with 14 CFR section 91.117(a) when cleared below 10,000 feet MSL, within domestic airspace, without notifying ATC. Pilots are expected to comply with the other provisions of 14 CFR section 91.117 without notification. 2. Speed restrictions of 250 knots do not apply to aircraft operating beyond 12 NM from the coastline within the U.S. Flight Information Region, in offshore Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL. However, in airspaceunderlying a Class B airspace area designated for an airport, or in a VFR corridor designated through such a Class B airspace area, pilots are expected to comply with the 200 knot speed limit specified in 14 CFR section 91.117(c). (See 14 CFR sections 91.117(c) and 91.70). 3. The phrases “maintain maximum forward speed" and “maintain slowest practical speed" are primarily intended for use when sequencing a group of aircraft. As the sequencing plan develops, it may be necessary to determine the specific speed and/or make specific speed assignments.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-7-2, Methods. 14 CFR Sections 91.117(c) and 91.703.
5-7-4 TERMINATION
Advise aircraft when speed adjustments are no longer needed.
Advise aircraft to “resume normal speed” when ATC-assigned speed adjustments are no longer required and no published speed restrictions apply.
PHRASEOLOGY
RESUME NORMAL SPEED.
NOTE
“Resume normal speed” is only used where there is no underlying published speed restriction. It does not delete speed restrictions on upcoming segments of flight and does not relieve the pilot of those speed restrictions which are applicable to 14 CFR section 91.117.
Instruct aircraft to “comply with speed restrictions” applicable to the charted procedure or route being flown.
PHRASEOLOGY
COMPLY WITH SPEED RESTRICTIONS
NOTE
The phraseology “comply with restrictions” requires compliance with all altitude and/or speed restrictions depicted on the procedure.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-6-2, Methods.
Advise aircraft to “resume published speed" when aircraft have been assigned an unpublished speed and ATC wants aircraft to meet subsequent published speed restrictions on the route or procedure.
PHRASEOLOGY
RESUME PUBLISHED SPEED
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-5-7, Altitude Information.
Advise aircraft when either ATC assigned speed adjustments or published speed restrictions are no longer required.
PHRASEOLOGY
DELETE SPEED RESTRICTIONS
NOTE
When deleting published restrictions, ATC must ensure obstacle clearance until aircraft are established on a route where no published restrictions apply. This does not relieve the pilot of those speed restrictions which are applicable to 14 CFR section 91.117.
REFERENCE
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 5-7-1, Application.
INTERPRETATION
7110.65, 5-7-4, Termination of Speed Adjustment (10-21-2015)