Narrative:

At approximately xa, dec/fri/89, VMC 65 southwest dfw during descent from FL330 to 11,000' (to cross bryar intersection at and maintain 11,000') the hi-altitude controller issued the following clearance: 'slow to 280 KTS'. (We were at 300 KTS.) followed soon thereafter by the additional clearance 'maintain 280 KTS acton one arrival dfw'. After intercepting and tracking the aqn 040 degree right to the creek intersection (aqn 040/32) (still maintaining the 280 KTS as previously directed) we were handed off to another controller. This next controller then issued clearance from 11,000' to 3000'. As we slowed from 280 KTS to 250 KTS for the descent below 10,000' this controller then asked our speed. I responded slowing to 250 KTS and he stated that we should be at 210 KTS as published. I responded (politely and tactfully) that the previous controller had issued clearance to 'maintain 280 KTS acton one arrival dfw'. (It was my understanding that this 'real time' request for 280 KTS superseded the published 250 KTS at flato and 210 KTS at creek intxns as published) this clearance to expedite the 'real time' air traffic conditions. The speed differential was dissolved safely, expediently, and with no problem whatsoever except a miscom or desired speed in the arrival corridor. Suggest: clarification of issued clearance (ATC desires). For example: '...maintain 280 KTS until (desired) fix then resume acton one arrival dfw as published.' emphasis on communications controller to/from pilot.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SPEED DEVIATION.

Narrative: AT APPROX XA, DEC/FRI/89, VMC 65 SW DFW DURING DSCNT FROM FL330 TO 11,000' (TO CROSS BRYAR INTXN AT AND MAINTAIN 11,000') THE HI-ALT CTLR ISSUED THE FOLLOWING CLRNC: 'SLOW TO 280 KTS'. (WE WERE AT 300 KTS.) FOLLOWED SOON THEREAFTER BY THE ADDITIONAL CLRNC 'MAINTAIN 280 KTS ACTON ONE ARR DFW'. AFTER INTERCEPTING AND TRACKING THE AQN 040 DEG R TO THE CREEK INTXN (AQN 040/32) (STILL MAINTAINING THE 280 KTS AS PREVIOUSLY DIRECTED) WE WERE HANDED OFF TO ANOTHER CTLR. THIS NEXT CTLR THEN ISSUED CLRNC FROM 11,000' TO 3000'. AS WE SLOWED FROM 280 KTS TO 250 KTS FOR THE DSCNT BELOW 10,000' THIS CTLR THEN ASKED OUR SPEED. I RESPONDED SLOWING TO 250 KTS AND HE STATED THAT WE SHOULD BE AT 210 KTS AS PUBLISHED. I RESPONDED (POLITELY AND TACTFULLY) THAT THE PREVIOUS CTLR HAD ISSUED CLRNC TO 'MAINTAIN 280 KTS ACTON ONE ARR DFW'. (IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS 'REAL TIME' REQUEST FOR 280 KTS SUPERSEDED THE PUBLISHED 250 KTS AT FLATO AND 210 KTS AT CREEK INTXNS AS PUBLISHED) THIS CLRNC TO EXPEDITE THE 'REAL TIME' AIR TFC CONDITIONS. THE SPEED DIFFERENTIAL WAS DISSOLVED SAFELY, EXPEDIENTLY, AND WITH NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER EXCEPT A MISCOM OR DESIRED SPEED IN THE ARR CORRIDOR. SUGGEST: CLARIFICATION OF ISSUED CLRNC (ATC DESIRES). FOR EXAMPLE: '...MAINTAIN 280 KTS UNTIL (DESIRED) FIX THEN RESUME ACTON ONE ARR DFW AS PUBLISHED.' EMPHASIS ON COMS CTLR TO/FROM PLT.

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.