Narrative:

From cruise at FL290, clearance from ZNY received for the slt 5 arrival to ewr. Cross bwz at 9000', maintain 270 KTS maximum speed. After we left FL250 clearance revised to cross 15 DME west of bwz at 9000' (no mention of speed). We accepted the clearance with the comment that it would be difficult to make the crossing restriction. We increased speed to try to comply with the crossing restriction. ATC shortly asked us our speed. We replied 340 KTS. We were given a vector to 180 degrees and slow to 250 KTS. He commented that we should have maintained 270 KTS. My reply was that we could not comply with crossing restriction at 270 KTS. When we reached 250 KTS, he cleared us direct bwz, cross 15 DME west at 9000'. I repeated the clearance and told him the crossing restriction was impossible at the 250 KTS restriction. We crossed 15 DME west of bwz at 10000', and 10 mi west at 9000'. No further comments or clearance issued re: the crossing restriction. 1) the controller did not seem to comprehend the capabilities of the heavy transport to descend and have speed restrictions. Even after my comments re: problems complying, and inability to comply, there was relief offered or suggested. 2) if a major amendment to a clearance is given after descent is commenced, a repeat of previous restrictions should be re-issued (repeat the 270 KTS restriction with the amended clearance if it applies). 3) this incident happened after an all night flight from the west coast. Under other circumstances we may have been more alert and been able to be more specific in our communications. The mental gymnastics required to re-compute our descent takes time, and with the concern of possibly not making the restriction, I didn't mention that I would need relief from the 270 KTS speed restriction since I didn't hear it repeated in the amended clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION REGARDING SPEED RESTRICTION TO DESCENT CLRNC RESULTED IN REPORTER FLT AT 340 KTS INSTEAD OF ASSIGNED 270 KTS AIRSPEED.

Narrative: FROM CRUISE AT FL290, CLRNC FROM ZNY RECEIVED FOR THE SLT 5 ARR TO EWR. CROSS BWZ AT 9000', MAINTAIN 270 KTS MAX SPD. AFTER WE LEFT FL250 CLRNC REVISED TO CROSS 15 DME W OF BWZ AT 9000' (NO MENTION OF SPD). WE ACCEPTED THE CLRNC WITH THE COMMENT THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE XING RESTRICTION. WE INCREASED SPD TO TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE XING RESTRICTION. ATC SHORTLY ASKED US OUR SPD. WE REPLIED 340 KTS. WE WERE GIVEN A VECTOR TO 180 DEGS AND SLOW TO 250 KTS. HE COMMENTED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE MAINTAINED 270 KTS. MY REPLY WAS THAT WE COULD NOT COMPLY WITH XING RESTRICTION AT 270 KTS. WHEN WE REACHED 250 KTS, HE CLRED US DIRECT BWZ, CROSS 15 DME W AT 9000'. I REPEATED THE CLRNC AND TOLD HIM THE XING RESTRICTION WAS IMPOSSIBLE AT THE 250 KTS RESTRICTION. WE CROSSED 15 DME W OF BWZ AT 10000', AND 10 MI W AT 9000'. NO FURTHER COMMENTS OR CLRNC ISSUED RE: THE XING RESTRICTION. 1) THE CTLR DID NOT SEEM TO COMPREHEND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE HVT TO DSND AND HAVE SPD RESTRICTIONS. EVEN AFTER MY COMMENTS RE: PROBS COMPLYING, AND INABILITY TO COMPLY, THERE WAS RELIEF OFFERED OR SUGGESTED. 2) IF A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO A CLRNC IS GIVEN AFTER DSCNT IS COMMENCED, A REPEAT OF PREVIOUS RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE RE-ISSUED (REPEAT THE 270 KTS RESTRICTION WITH THE AMENDED CLRNC IF IT APPLIES). 3) THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER AN ALL NIGHT FLT FROM THE W COAST. UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE ALERT AND BEEN ABLE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC IN OUR COMS. THE MENTAL GYMNASTICS REQUIRED TO RE-COMPUTE OUR DSCNT TAKES TIME, AND WITH THE CONCERN OF POSSIBLY NOT MAKING THE RESTRICTION, I DIDN'T MENTION THAT I WOULD NEED RELIEF FROM THE 270 KTS SPD RESTRICTION SINCE I DIDN'T HEAR IT REPEATED IN THE AMENDED CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.