For a conventional aircraft, the reference stall speed, Vsmin, is based on a load factor that is less than 1 g. This gives a stall speed that is lower than the stall speed at 1 g. All operating speeds are expressed as functions of this speed (for example, Vref = 1.3 Vsmin).
Because aircraft of the A320 family have a low-speed protection feature (alpha limit) that the flight crew cannot override, Airworthiness Authorities have reconsidered the definition of stall speed for these aircraft.
All the operating speeds must be referenced to a speed that can be demonstrated by flight tests. This speed is designated VS1g.
Airworthiness Authorities have agreed that a factor of 0.94 represents the relationship between VS1g for aircraft of the A320 family and VSmin for conventional aircraft types. As a result, Authorities allow aircraft of the A320 family to use the following factors:
‐ V2 = 1.2 × 0.94 Vs1g = 1.13 Vs1g
‐ Vref = 1.3 × 0.94 Vs1g = 1.23 Vs1g
These speeds are identical to those that the conventional 94 % rule would have defined for these aircraft. The A318, A319, A320, and A321 have exactly the same maneuver margin that a conventional aircraft would have at its reference speeds.
The FCOM uses Vs for Vs1g.