Short Final: Ludicrous Speed

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

An Air Traffic Controller initially requested a King Air aircraft to maintain a slower speed to ensure separation from a preceding aircraft and facilitate a sector hand-off.
The King Air pilot offered to increase their speed significantly to overtake the preceding aircraft before the hand-off could occur.
After a brief consideration, the controller approved the faster speed, prompting the pilot to humorously declare they were cleared for "ludicrous speed."

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This past September I overheard this:

King Air 12345: “Potomac, King Air 12345, do you still need us to hold back to 190 knots?”

Approach: “King Air 345, yes I do. There’s a Pilatus about 50 miles ahead of you, same altitude, and we need to maintain separation while I hand you off to the next sector. You’d have to go really fast to get ahead of him before the hand‑off.”

King Air 12345: “Potomac, King Air 345 could push it up to 238 knots. Would that work?”

There was a pause while the controller digested this option.

Approach: “King Air, 345 that works. Turn 10 degrees right and speed your discretion.”

King Air 12345: “Roger, Potomac, King Air 345 cleared ‘ludicrous speed!'”

Mike Jones

Southern Pines, NC