What is the typical descent rate if flying at a high groundspeed?

When flying at a high groundspeed, the typical descent rate is considered to be around 2500 feet per minute (fpm). This rate is often utilized for various operational scenarios, including approaches and descents that require efficient altitude changes while maintaining the required speed for landing procedures.

Flying at higher groundspeeds generally allows for steeper descent angles, which can be beneficial in certain air traffic environments or when trying to reach an airport in a timely manner. A descent rate of 2500 fpm is a practical figure that blends the need for speed with the safety aspect of controlling the descent effectively. It strikes a balance between being aggressive enough for efficient performance while remaining manageable for pilot workload and airframe structural integrity.

Other options present descent rates that may be too extreme for typical scenarios. For instance, descent rates like 3000 fpm could be highly demanding on both the aircraft and pilot, possibly leading to excessive G-forces or loss of control, while rates such as 1500 fpm and 2000 fpm might not be sufficient in tight air traffic conditions where a quicker descent is necessary without compromising control. Thus, 2500 fpm is the most realistic and commonly used descent rate for operations at high groundspeeds