Narrative:

Departing ZZZ on the SID; fueled for a 14+ hour flight; with an approximate takeoff weight of 1;180;500 pounds. At this weight; our minimum speed in a clean configuration is 285 knots. At 3;200 ft the pilot not flying advised socal approach that we would be unable to maintain 250 knots; and we required 285 knots. The controller instantly scolded us and said 'this is the USA; and your maximum speed below 10;000 ft is 250 knots.' we again said that we required 285 knots. Per far 91.117(d) it is permissible to go above 250 knots below 10;000 ft when necessary 'if the minimum safe airspeed for any particular operation is greater than the maximum speed prescribed in this section; the aircraft may be operated at that minimum speed.' after stating that we required 285 knots minimum; the controller laughed as he said 'I work A380's in and out of ZZZ every day; and you're the only one that requires it. Whatever; maintain 285 knots. It works ok for me today; but please don't try these games again when we're even busier.' since we were going on a 14.5 hour flight; I knew that by the time I landed and called the facility; the controller and his supervisor would be long gone; so that would be pointless. But my experience does emphasize the fact that controllers need to be educated on airplane minimum speeds; and the fars which allow such aircraft to go faster than 250 knots below 10;000 ft. I am fortunate enough to fly for an excellent airline with wonderful training and standards. A less fortunate and less trained crew very well might have had a clean aircraft too slow (250 knots; as the controlled mandated) and caused a serious safety concern. I believe that the controllers job is to separate aircraft; and a pilots job is to fly the aircraft. A controller has no business telling me how to fly my aircraft; just like I don't tell them how to separate traffic.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A very heavy A380-800 departed a domestic airport with a 285 kts minimum clean maneuvering speed and was criticized by the TRACON for exceeding 250 kts below 10;000 feet. The Controller disregarded the minimum safe maneuvering speed permitted by FAR 91.117(d).

Narrative: Departing ZZZ on the SID; fueled for a 14+ hour flight; with an approximate takeoff weight of 1;180;500 pounds. At this weight; our minimum speed in a clean configuration is 285 knots. At 3;200 ft the pilot not flying advised SOCAL Approach that we would be unable to maintain 250 knots; and we required 285 knots. The controller instantly scolded us and said 'This is the USA; and your maximum speed below 10;000 ft is 250 knots.' We again said that we REQUIRED 285 knots. Per FAR 91.117(d) it is permissible to go above 250 knots below 10;000 ft when necessary 'If the minimum safe airspeed for any particular operation is greater than the maximum speed prescribed in this section; the aircraft may be operated at that minimum speed.' After stating that we required 285 knots minimum; the controller laughed as he said 'I work A380's in and out of ZZZ every day; and you're the only one that requires it. Whatever; maintain 285 knots. It works OK for me today; but please don't try these games again when we're even busier.' Since we were going on a 14.5 hour flight; I knew that by the time I landed and called the facility; the controller and his supervisor would be long gone; so that would be pointless. But my experience does emphasize the fact that controllers need to be educated on airplane minimum speeds; and the FARs which allow such aircraft to go faster than 250 knots below 10;000 ft. I am fortunate enough to fly for an excellent airline with wonderful training and standards. A less fortunate and less trained crew very well might have had a clean aircraft too slow (250 knots; as the controlled mandated) and caused a serious safety concern. I believe that the controllers job is to separate aircraft; and a pilots job is to fly the aircraft. A controller has no business telling me how to fly my aircraft; just like I don't tell them how to separate traffic.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.