Originally Posted by
nolimitholdem
At many (most?) busy international airports it's routine to fly at less than 200kts for the last 20+ miles. Typical profile has one at 210kts until about 20 miles, 180 until 10, 160 until 4 or 5 miles. Depends on where in the world you are: in the UK they tend to use holds to meter the traffic, in the US they prefer to use delay vectors and speed control.
In practical terms there's no way around flying with some slats/flaps out at ranges more than 10nm.
Ever fly to EWR? Normally they will yell at you if you fly less than 230 knots 20 miles out!
180 til 4-5 miles final is is common!! And MDW? Ha. I've been asked if I can maintain 200 til 4-5 miles final there!
I fly central eastern Canada and the US and where I go (for example EWR, MDW, BOS, IAD) it's rare to be told to slow to 200kts 20 miles out, except maybe IAD.