Definition
A long radius taxiway designed and provided with lighting or marking to define the path of aircraft, traveling at high speed (up to 60 knots), from the runway center to a point on the center of a taxiway. Also referred to as long radius exit or turn-off taxiway. The high speed exit is intended to expedite aircraft turning off the runway after landing, thus reducing runway occupancy time.
Plain English
A taxiway that branches off the runway at a shallow angle so a landing aircraft can turn off quickly without having to slow to a near stop first. This clears the runway sooner so the next aircraft can land or take off.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport diagrams, during landing rollout planning, and in tower instructions after landing.
Why Pilots Care
Shortens runway occupancy time and increases the number of aircraft movements an airport can handle per hour.
Analogy
It is like an angled highway off-ramp instead of a sharp street corner: the angle lets you leave the main path smoothly without slowing as much.
Intuition Check
High speed exit does not mean the pilot should leave the runway as fast as possible. It means the exit is specially shaped to allow a safe, smoother turnoff at a higher speed than a standard runway exit.
Example Sentence 1
Tower instructed us to exit at the high speed exit if able, so we planned our braking to make the turn-off comfortably.
Example Sentence 2
Runway 18R has two high speed exits that allow us to vacate at 50 knots instead of taxiing to the far end.