"Ed Rasimus" wrote...

Things have undoubtedly changed since my last military flight, but the
applicable section of AFR 60-16 which was the governing regulation on
flight operations was that the max airspeed below 10,000 feet MSL was
250 KIAS unless the aircraft operating manual required higher. "We
don' need no steenkin' waivers."

The Navy version is OPNAVINST 3710.7. The latest version I have is .7S, dated
15 Nov 2001:

"1.2.3 Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).

"Naval aircraft shall be operated in accordance with applicable provisions of
FAR, Part 91, except:

. . .

"b. Where exemptions or authorizations issued to the Department of the
Navy/Department of Defense permit deviation from FAR. Exemptions/authorizations
currently on file that allow deviation from FAR, Part 91.

"(1) Section 91.117 (Aircraft Speed). Operation of naval aircraft at speeds
in excess of limits imposed by section 91.117 shall be governed by paragraph
5.1.4 of this instruction."


The pertinent section of 5.1.4 is:

"5.1.4.2 Policy. In accordance with FAA authorization, flight operations below
10,000 feet MSL at an indicated airspeed in excess of 250 knots are authorized
under the following conditions:

"a. Within restricted areas.

"b. Within military operations areas.

"c. When operating on DOD/FAA mutually developed and published routes.

"d. When operating on DOD-developed and DOD-published VR routes. Such routes
shall be established for specific missions and used only by designated units
when the provisions of a through c above will not accommodate the required
national defense mission. Routes shall be developed and published in accordance
with DOD/FAA mutually developed criteria.

"e. When operating within large-scale exercises or on short-term special
missions approved by commanders listed in paragraph 5.1.4.3. Such exercises or
missions may be authorized provided that coordination is effected to ensure
awareness on the part of the nonparticipating flying public.

"f. If the airspeed required or recommended in the aircraft NATOPS manual to
maintain safe maneuverability is greater than the maximum speed described in
FAR, Part 91.117, the aircraft may be operated at that speed. Where the required
or recommended speed is given as a range, the lower part of the speed range
consistent with good operating practice should be used. The primary purpose of
this provision is to accommodate climbs, descents, and terminal area operations
and shall not be used to circumvent the provisions of sub-paragraphs above.
Under no circumstance will this safe maneuverability provision be construed as
authorization for individual pilots or mission commanders to conduct other
flights below 10,000 feet in excess of 250 knots."