Follow A 1,000 FPM Descent Rate Limit Operational experience and research have shown that a descent rate of greater than approximately 1,000 FPM is unacceptable during the final stages of an approach (below 1,000 feet AGL).

In commercial aviation, the "maximum acceptable descent rate" for a stabilized approach is generally 1,000 feet per minute (fpm) when the aircraft is below 1,000 feet above ground level. This limit is a critical safety standard defined by ICAO and individual airline SOPs to ensure the pilot has total control before landing. If the descent rate exceeds 1,000 fpm during the final stages of the approach, the flight crew is usually required to perform a "Go-Around" (aborted landing). For the actual touchdown, a descent rate of roughly 120 to 240 fpm is considered a "smooth" landing; anything exceeding 360 fpm at the moment of impact is categorized as a "Firm" or "Hard" landing, which may trigger a mandatory maintenance inspection of the landing gear and airframe to check for structural stress or damage.