Definition
The airspeed flown during the final approach segment of a landing, set above the airplane's stall speed in landing configuration by a margin specified in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). It is typically expressed as a multiple of Vso (stall speed in landing configuration) — commonly 1.3 Vso — and may be adjusted for gust factor, weight, or flap setting as the manufacturer directs.
Plain English
The speed the pilot aims to fly at while lined up to land. It is fast enough to keep the airplane safely above stalling, but slow enough to touch down where intended.
Context Anchor
Used during final approach, when the airplane is descending toward the runway and the pilot is setting up for landing.
Derivation
Approach comes from an older French word meaning to come nearer. Airspeed means speed through the air, not speed over the ground. Together, approach airspeed means the speed through the air used while coming nearer to the runway for landing.
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining the correct approach airspeed gives the aircraft proper control response, prevents an inadvertent stall, and produces a safe touchdown speed and landing distance.
Intuition Check
Approach airspeed does not mean any speed you happen to have while approaching the airport. It means the planned speed used for the final landing setup.
Example Sentence 1
Once established on final, the pilot reduced power and pitched to hold the published approach airspeed all the way to the threshold.
Example Sentence 2
A few knots above the target approach airspeed caused the airplane to float well past the intended touchdown point.