What is the long range descent speed?

What is the long range descent speed?

• A. .70 Mach or 250 Knots
• B. .74 Mach or 290 Knots
• C. .77 Mach or 320 Knots
• D. 250 Knots or .70 Mach

Answer: (A)

Long-range descent speed is the target airspeed used to descend from cruise in a way that minimizes fuel burn while keeping the descent stable. The CRJ-550 uses Mach 0.70 as this baseline, which roughly corresponds to about 250 knots indicated airspeed at typical descent levels. This pairing gives a smooth, efficient descent path without the drag and fuel penalties of higher speeds. Higher Mach numbers (like 0.74 or 0.77) are generally used for faster cruise or steeper descents, not the fuel-optimized long-range profile. So the best choice is Mach 0.70 or 250 knots, since altitude-specific conversions still align with that efficient descent standard.

Long-range descent speed is the target airspeed used to descend from cruise in a way that minimizes fuel burn while keeping the descent stable. The CRJ-550 uses Mach 0.70 as this baseline, which roughly corresponds to about 250 knots indicated airspeed at typical descent levels. This pairing gives a smooth, efficient descent path without the drag and fuel penalties of higher speeds. Higher Mach numbers (like 0.74 or 0.77) are generally used for faster cruise or steeper descents, not the fuel-optimized long-range profile. So the best choice is Mach 0.70 or 250 knots, since altitude-specific conversions still align with that efficient descent standard.