The minimum altitude (AGL) for speed brake deployment is what value?

• A. 1,000 feet
• B. 2,000 feet
• C. 1,500 feet
• D. 500 feet

Answer: (A)

Speed brakes are used to rapidly increase drag and help manage energy, especially during descent and approach. Because deploying them changes the airplane’s lift- and drag balance and can affect controllability, there must be enough altitude to ensure you can maintain stable flight, reach or maintain the desired approach speed, and still have room to recover if something doesn’t go as planned. Setting a minimum altitude of 1,000 feet above the ground gives that safety margin: you can decelerate, confirm stable flight path, and, if needed, execute a go-around or adjust configuration without being pressed into a tight, low-altitude situation.

Deploying at or above 1,000 feet AGL provides the necessary vertical room to manage any handling changes and ensures you aren’t left with insufficient energy margin close to the ground. The other values would either unnecessarily constrain operations (being higher than needed) or, if lower, would not leave enough room to recover safely.