Narrative:

We descended from 6000 ft to 4000 ft by request due to moderate turbulence at 6000 ft (as were many other airplanes). At 29 DME from mem we were at 4000 ft doing 220 KTS. ATC queried us as to our IAS. First officer replied '220.' the controller then stated, 'are you aware that you are below the class B airspace?' I responded by saying 'we were not aware of that and would be slowing to 200 KTS.' he then said 'you will be re-entering the class B in 1.1 mi.' I accept responsibility for any violation of FARS as the PIC. I do have some questions and comments on this matter however: 1) if we were 1.1 mi from re-entering the class B then our position of 29 DME from mem could not be correct. Perhaps we were mistaken as to our position at the time the query was made -- perhaps not. 2) I will never enter mem airspace again without the terminal chart available to me (or any class B). 3) I believe controllers send a mixed message about this. There are many times a controller will purposefully descend you out of the class B and also ask for maximum forward speed without mentioning FARS pertaining to speed limits. Controllers want separation and spacing and will lead you into an far trap to get it. This particular controller's actions were totally unexpected and inconsistent with current practical experience. This same controller issued the same warning to 2 other airplanes behind us. They will be sending NASA forms too. 4) the 30 mi ring near holly springs, ms, is flat and does not extend the full 30 mi, yet there is no distance on the chart. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated he felt the mem 10-1A page was vague and lacked radials and/or DME to determine the class B boundary. His company has had several other aircraft advised of airspeed deviations in this same area. No action against any of the pilots has been taken by the FAA.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC ADVISED BY ARTCC OF AIRSPD RESTR OUTSIDE CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WE DSNDED FROM 6000 FT TO 4000 FT BY REQUEST DUE TO MODERATE TURB AT 6000 FT (AS WERE MANY OTHER AIRPLANES). AT 29 DME FROM MEM WE WERE AT 4000 FT DOING 220 KTS. ATC QUERIED US AS TO OUR IAS. FO REPLIED '220.' THE CTLR THEN STATED, 'ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOU ARE BELOW THE CLASS B AIRSPACE?' I RESPONDED BY SAYING 'WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THAT AND WOULD BE SLOWING TO 200 KTS.' HE THEN SAID 'YOU WILL BE RE-ENTERING THE CLASS B IN 1.1 MI.' I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY VIOLATION OF FARS AS THE PIC. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON THIS MATTER HOWEVER: 1) IF WE WERE 1.1 MI FROM RE-ENTERING THE CLASS B THEN OUR POS OF 29 DME FROM MEM COULD NOT BE CORRECT. PERHAPS WE WERE MISTAKEN AS TO OUR POS AT THE TIME THE QUERY WAS MADE -- PERHAPS NOT. 2) I WILL NEVER ENTER MEM AIRSPACE AGAIN WITHOUT THE TERMINAL CHART AVAILABLE TO ME (OR ANY CLASS B). 3) I BELIEVE CTLRS SEND A MIXED MESSAGE ABOUT THIS. THERE ARE MANY TIMES A CTLR WILL PURPOSEFULLY DSND YOU OUT OF THE CLASS B AND ALSO ASK FOR MAX FORWARD SPD WITHOUT MENTIONING FARS PERTAINING TO SPD LIMITS. CTLRS WANT SEPARATION AND SPACING AND WILL LEAD YOU INTO AN FAR TRAP TO GET IT. THIS PARTICULAR CTLR'S ACTIONS WERE TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND INCONSISTENT WITH CURRENT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. THIS SAME CTLR ISSUED THE SAME WARNING TO 2 OTHER AIRPLANES BEHIND US. THEY WILL BE SENDING NASA FORMS TOO. 4) THE 30 MI RING NEAR HOLLY SPRINGS, MS, IS FLAT AND DOES NOT EXTEND THE FULL 30 MI, YET THERE IS NO DISTANCE ON THE CHART. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED HE FELT THE MEM 10-1A PAGE WAS VAGUE AND LACKED RADIALS AND/OR DME TO DETERMINE THE CLASS B BOUNDARY. HIS COMPANY HAS HAD SEVERAL OTHER ACFT ADVISED OF AIRSPD DEVS IN THIS SAME AREA. NO ACTION AGAINST ANY OF THE PLTS HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE FAA.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.