With the highly-anticipated release of buildings and clouds, a new, but small feature might go unnoticed. Version 21.1 will undoubtedly bring with it a sense of realism not seen before, and to continue in that direction, new ATC speed commands will also come with this release. Approach speed control is something that pilots and controllers alike use day to day in the real world and these will open up a whole new level of operation for Infinite Flight!

So what’s new?

Previously, when pilots were cleared for the approach, speed control was at their discretion. However with the new release, controllers will now be able to issue speed control after aircraft have been cleared for the approach.

The new speed commands are:

“[Callsign], maintain 160kts until 4 mile final”
“[Callsign], maintain 170kts until 5 mile final”
“[Callsign], maintain 180kts until 6 mile final”

How are aircraft speed commands used in the real world?

Speed control is an integral part of traffic management and controllers will often use this to:

Increase arrival flow rate
Ensure required minimum arrival spacing
And to standardize initial approach profiles for improved predictability

Allowing aircraft to stay in a clean configuration for as long as possible for fuel efficiency is key but when they are slowed, they are expected to reduce their speed at a rate of 1kt per second. Common intermediate speeds such as 220kts and 180kts are usually used, offering controllers predictable patterns, especially in terms of closure rate with aircraft ahead.

The vast majority of commercial aircraft have a Final Approach Speed that is in the region of 115kts to 155kts. This means that even with minimum separation between two arrivals, the closure rate with an aircraft at 160kts behind is minimal and thus protects the integrity of the separation applied. The use of 170kts to 5 miles and 180kts to 6 miles follows the same principle as 160kts to 4 miles, however the latter is the most commonly used.

Image depicting a long line of departures waiting for takeoff in Infinite Flight with one aircraft taking off.

So what do you do if you are issued with one of these new speed commands?

Reduce to the speed instructed as expeditiously as possible
Configure your aircraft to be able to fly at that speed
Maintain the assigned speed until you reach the distance specified
At the correct distance from the runway (keep reading for tips), reduce to your Final Approach Speed and continue to configure for landing

Once you’re at your Final Approach Speed, make sure to assess your stability, a successful landing is always preceded by a stable approach!

Help from our flying guide: Stability Approach Criteria

How do you know how far you are from the runway?

If you are flying an ILS Approach, the distance to the runway threshold will be displayed to the right of the Horizontal Situation Indicator once you have tuned to the frequency and displayed it.

Using the ILS is the best way to get distance information but if this isn’t available, you can also try one of the following:

Select the airport, or ideally the runway end fix (if available) as your “next fix” and then use the “distance to next” option in the status bar to display this
Use visual clues such as perceived distance based on experience or where other aircraft began to reduce to their Final Approach Speed

What are the benefits?

There is a reason that these are used at the busiest hubs across the globe, and that is efficiency! The days of being behind a pilot that decides to reduce to their Final Approach Speed at 15 miles are finally gone and controllers will now be able to pack more aircraft in without the concern of separation being lost.

What can you expect with this change?

More efficiency
Tighter spacing and therefore fewer delays
Fewer go-arounds
And overall, a more realistic experience!

Ready to give Infinite Flight a try? Head to your App Store or Google Play Store to download Infinite Flight, and we will see you in the skies!

Please note: A subscription to Infinite Flight Pro is required to fly in multiplayer and with ATC.

Image Credits: @Pingu, @ThomasR and @Ruky

Support & Features

Connect