What factor is NOT considered part of the stabilized approach criteria at 500 feet?

The stabilized approach criteria are a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring safe and effective approaches to landing, particularly as the aircraft descends through critical altitudes such as 500 feet. These criteria help pilots maintain control and awareness of the aircraft's state in preparation for a safe landing.

One key aspect of these criteria is that the aircraft should be on the correct lateral track, ensuring alignment with the runway. Additionally, the engines should be spooled to ensure they are responsive and ready for any necessary adjustments during the landing phase. Maintaining a constant descent rate is also crucial, as it allows for a smooth transition to landing without sudden fluctuations in altitude that could lead to mismanagement of the approach.

In contrast, the requirement to "maintain any airspeed" does not fit into the stabilized approach criteria. The airspeed must be within specific operational limits for the approach to be considered stabilized, but it should not be an arbitrary figure. Instead, pilots are trained to maintain a predetermined safe airspeed, which is part of the overall approach and landing strategy. Therefore, "maintain any airspeed" implies a lack of necessary precision, which is not acceptable in stabilized approaches where specific speeds are critical to ensuring safety and adherence to operational protocols.