During a V/S mode approach, how is airspeed maintained?

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Multiple Choice

During a V/S mode approach, how is airspeed maintained?

During a V/S approach, the vertical path is guided by pitch to achieve the desired descent rate, but the airspeed is actively controlled by the autothrottle. The crew selects a target speed in the MCP (IAS or Mach window), and the autothrottle works to hold that speed as shown by the FMA’s SPD indication. In other words, thrust is varied to keep the airplane within the commanded speed band while the aircraft follows the vertical speed target. This isn’t done by locking the throttle, nor by relying on pitch alone, nor by VNAV alone—the autothrottle actively manages airspeed to match the selected speed while the vertical profile is controlled separately.

During a V/S approach, the vertical path is guided by pitch to achieve the desired descent rate, but the airspeed is actively controlled by the autothrottle. The crew selects a target speed in the MCP (IAS or Mach window), and the autothrottle works to hold that speed as shown by the FMA’s SPD indication. In other words, thrust is varied to keep the airplane within the commanded speed band while the aircraft follows the vertical speed target.

This isn’t done by locking the throttle, nor by relying on pitch alone, nor by VNAV alone—the autothrottle actively manages airspeed to match the selected speed while the vertical profile is controlled separately.

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