WJA SOP - 250kts below 10,000 on departure

[Jerricho]

Can a WestJet driver out there confirm or correct the whisper doing the rounds that you all are restricted by company ops to a max speed of 250 kts below 10,000 feet on departure.

Thanks much.

[Pilot DAR]

I'm not a Westjet pilot, but I can confirm that airspeed below 10000 feet is limited to 250kts by Canadian Aviaton Regulation, so as to assure that aircraft are operated within their design limitations with respect to bird strike tolerance.

Pilot DAR

[yoohoo748]

Pilot DAR>> If memory serves correctly, 250 is only for arrival. Checked the CARS... it's all right here> 602.32

YYZ (a couple years ago anyhow) also specify 250 for departures unless your a/c min clean speed is higher. I seem to recall Vancouver having a departure speed restriction of about 270kts to 8000ft. (something like that). On the climb out, think not only birds, but exposing yourself to less time in the congested lower level airspace.

[tbaylx]

Dar,

That is incorrect. Aircraft climbing to a cruise altitude higher than 10 000 feet may climb at any airspeed on departure. They are restricted on arrivals, and some sid's restrict you to 250 below 10 on departure (YYZ for example).

Some company SOP's require 250 below 10 at all timkes due to bird strike hazards though, perhaps WJ is one of them.

[777AV8R]

Unless dictated by the SID, no restriction on speeds in the climb. Yes, YVR does have the 270K below 8000.

The restriction IS 250 below 10,000 on arrival, however.

[Jerricho]

Thank you for the responses so far.

It was with CAR 602.32 subsection 3 in mind that the question was asked.

3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), a person may operate an aircraft at an indicated airspeed greater than the airspeeds referred to in subsections (1) and (2) where the aircraft is being operated on departure or in accordance with a special flight operations certificate - special aviation event issued pursuant to section 603.02.

The reason I ask is I'm in the middle of teaching an Enroute to Terminal conversion course, and the topic came up during a departure simulation regarding assigning speeds on departure. The chinese whispers of "cleared to an altitude above 10,000" and "every one must adhere below 10,000 on arrival and departure" were incorrectly being thrown around.

WJA drivers???

[Jamesel]

Hi Jerricho,
WestJet SOPs basically say don't exceed 250 KIAS in the climb below 10,000 feet, unless specifically requested by ATC. ATC requests can be accepted up to a max of 280 KIAS, after due consideration to birds, VFR traffic, or miscellaneous Flight Conditions.
Cheers, jamesel

[Jerricho]

Ahh, that's great!

Thank you very much sir!

[bcflyer]

If you're interested Jazz SOP's are the same. 250kts till 10000 on climbout.

[Jerricho]

Really?

Those RJs go faster than that? ;) :p

(Just kidding.......... thanks mate :ok: )

[Otterman]

Fly left seat on a B777 (in Europe), in and out of several Canadian cities (grew up there), and worldwide. Below you can see the instructions we have in our books on speed limits in Canada.
1. ROUTE PROCEDURES
1.6 Canada
5. STANDARD SPEED LIMITS
— Below 10 000 ft MSL (outside holding): 250 kt IAS. During descent, advice ATC when it is required to level off temporarily at 10 000 ft, in order to comply with this speed limit.
— Max. holding speeds: FAA table, see under ’USA’, next Section.
— Below 3 000 ft AGL within 10 NM of a controlled airport: 200 kt IAS, unless cleared otherwise.
Exemptions:
— During departure, 200 and 250 kt IAS respectively may be exceeded.
— Where the minimum safe speed for a particular aircraft is greater than the maximum speeds given above, that aircraft shall be operated at the minimum safe speed.
Regards O.

[Slapshot]

As I understand the CARS if you are cleared to an altitude above 10,000 Ft you may exceed 250 Kts in the climb.

However, Aircraft limitations and Company SOP's may dictate otherwise. It was stated in the Boeing manual for our 737's that we should not exceed 250 in climb until 10,000 feet for birdstrike protection. That was the reason we were climbing at 250 Kts until 10,000.

That had been changed by Company SOP some time ago to what Jamesel has stated.