What is the recommended minimum airspeed when zooming to capture in an engine failure scenario?

In the context of an engine failure scenario during flight, the recommended minimum airspeed for zooming to capture is set to ensure a safe and effective recovery approach. A speed of 125 KIAS (Knots Indicated Airspeed) allows the aircraft to maintain sufficient control authority and aerodynamic efficiency while ensuring that the aircraft remains responsive to pilot inputs.

Zooming to capture is a maneuvre to gain altitude and speed before attempting to recover from an engine failure, and having an airspeed of 125 KIAS provides a good balance of performance during this critical phase. This speed facilitates the expected climb performance and enhances the aircraft’s ability to maintain lift and control, especially when transitioning back to level flight or attempting to land safely after an engine out scenario.

The selected airspeed also enables optimal energy management, giving the pilot a better margin for negotiating any necessary turns or maneuvers without risking a stall. In contrast, higher speeds such as 135 KIAS could lead to an excessive amount of kinetic energy, making the aircraft more difficult to control during initial phases of recovery, while lower speeds like 100 KIAS or 110 KIAS might jeopardize the aircraft’s lift and handling characteristics in a critical time of flight recovery.

Thus, 125 K