Airbus vs Boeing (speeds)
Airbus guy here, looking to understand a bit more about American airplanes.
Looking at the 777 documentation, Boeing has a minimum manoeuvring speed and a flap manoeuvring speed. It says the flap speed is the cue for flap extension, while the minimum speed is the 1.3g buffet limit.
What exactly is the difference then? I assume the flap speed is equivalent to the characteristic speeds on an Airbus. Why then, are we required to extend flaps when slowing below the flap speed, when there still remains a healthy margin to the actual minimum manoeuvring speed?
On an A320, you can safely fly below this flap manoeuvring speed. What’s different on a Boeing?
Obviously, we’re going to follow SOP, but the academic curiosity remains.