There are lots of stupid little questions that I’m sure we’ve all wondered about from time to time, but are too trivial to deserve their own thread. They can probably be answered in a Yes or No one word answer 
So maybe it’s fitting to have a thread for such simple questions.
I’ve one to start.
I’ve often heard ATC clearing traffic with “No Speed Restriction” or when clearing someone to climb to a specific level “No climb restriction”. Now these are generally in the terminal area for arriving and departing traffic, making my questions even more ‘stupid’ as the aircraft will have their own limits on this.
But my question is:
If you were flying something like an F15 or F22 with very high performance, would receiving a clearance “No speed restriction” actually allow you to go supersonic? Or does the 250kts below FL100 still apply and do you need a specific clearance to go supersonic?
Likewise does “No climb restriction” allow you to go into a vertical climb if you are capable of that?
These questions clearly qualify for “stupid” as those are clearly not the intensions of the controller, and the aircraft they are taking to aren’t capable of such, and I’ll never fly anything that is capable of such. But none the less, every time I hear it, I do wonder….what if!
If you know the answer, then great. If you don’t know the answer, feel free to add your own stupid questions that you’ve always wondered about 
- no
- no & yes
- no
„Unrestricted climb“ is often meant as „cleared FL270 without observing FIX1 at 2000ft, FIX2 above 3000ft, FIX3 below 7000ft“ etc…
My stupid question of the day: Is there actually any legal mandate to use a seatbelt in GA aircraft in Europe?
dublinpilot wrote:
If you were flying something like an F15 or F22 with very high performance, would receiving a clearance “No speed restriction” actually allow you to go supersonic? Or does the 250kts below FL100 still apply and do you need a specific clearance to go supersonic?
There are two kinds of speed restrictions:
SERA mandated restrictions, e.g. 250 kt below FL100 in airspace classes C (VFR) or D and E
ATC mandated restrictions – not only by explicit instruction but also. a general speed limit e.g. of 250 kt for IFR below FL100 in a class C TMA.
“No speed restriction” only lifts the second kind – not the first one.
MedEwok wrote:
Is there actually any legal mandate to use a seatbelt in GA aircraft in Europe?
Sure: See NCO.GEN.105:
(f) During flight, the pilot-in-command shall:
(1) keep his/her safety belt fastened while at his/her station; and
(2) remain at the controls of the aircraft at all times except if another pilot is taking the controls
For passengers see NCO.OP.150:
The pilot-in-command shall ensure that, prior to and during taxiing, take-off and landing, and whenever deemed necessary in the interest of safety, each passenger on board occupies a seat or berth and has his/her safety belt or restraint device properly secured.
Thank you guys for the answers!
Thank you MedEwok for joining the spirit of the thread
MedEwok wrote
Thanks @tschnell , that was straightforward.
To complicate, for N-reg, 14 CFR § 91.107 says, “the pilot in command of that aircraft ensures that each person on board has been notified to fasten his or her safety belt”, making actual seatbelt use the passenger’s responsibility, not the pilot’s.
I learnt a long time ago that if you do not know the answer then it is NOT a stupid question. Well done dublinpilot for starting this.
