Final answer:
The 250 knots speed restriction for aircraft flying in offshore Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL within the U.S. Flight Information Region does not apply beyond 12 nautical miles from the coastline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about speed restrictions for aircraft operating within the U.S. Flight Information Region in offshore Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL. Specifically, the question pertains to the distance from the coastline beyond which the speed restriction of 250 knots does not apply.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, commercial aircraft are required to maintain specific separation standards while flying. This includes keeping a distance of five miles from another aircraft flying at the same altitude, and being either 2,000 feet above or below another aircraft (or 1,000 feet if the altitude is less than 29,000 feet). These rules help ensure aircraft safety by preventing collisions and allowing for orderly management of air traffic.
However, the question specifically asks about the regulation for speed restrictions and not separation distances or altitudes. Therefore, for aircraft flying in offshore Class E airspace below 10,000 feet MSL, the 250 knots speed restriction does not apply to aircraft operating beyond 12 nautical miles from the coastline (Option b). This allows aircraft more flexibility in operating speeds when they are farther away from potentially congested and carefully regulated coastal airspace.