Structural damage or failure is more likely to occur in smooth air at speeds above

Explanation

PHAK Chapter 8 defines VNE (the red line) as the speed that must never be exceeded because operating above it, even in smooth air, may cause structural damage or failure. Flight between VNO and VNE (yellow arc) is permitted only in smooth air, and VA concerns full control deflections and turbulence, not smooth-air structural failure.