Narrative:

Iah has a special situation regarding aircraft speed. The 250 KT speed limit does not apply when 'speed control' NOTAMS are in effect. This was the case the evening of the flight. It is my understanding that you are informed there is 'no speed limit' by the first departure controller. Until the time an aircraft is in radar contact, normal speed limits apply. Obviously, there is a very short time after takeoff, prior to switching over to the departure controller, where the normal speed limit is 200 KTS in class D airspace. Aircraft are allowed to accelerate to their 0 degree flap maneuvering speed after takeoff, even if that's in excess of 200 KTS. Our 0 degree flap maneuver speed was 220 KTS. The captain was flying, and I expected him to stop accelerating at 220 KTS, but he did not. I mentioned to him to watch his speed (now at 230 KTS) to which he replied, 'there's no speed limit here.' by now we were accelerating through 240 KTS. Then we were switched over to the departure controller, who informed us there was no speed limit upon initial contact. This 'speed control' test program at iah is confusing, and frankly, non productive in my view. I will review the NOTAMS closely with the captain prior to my next departure there.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SPD DEV IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE HOUSTON SPD CTL TEST PROGRAM.

Narrative: IAH HAS A SPECIAL SIT REGARDING ACFT SPD. THE 250 KT SPD LIMIT DOES NOT APPLY WHEN 'SPD CTL' NOTAMS ARE IN EFFECT. THIS WAS THE CASE THE EVENING OF THE FLT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU ARE INFORMED THERE IS 'NO SPD LIMIT' BY THE FIRST DEP CTLR. UNTIL THE TIME AN ACFT IS IN RADAR CONTACT, NORMAL SPD LIMITS APPLY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER TKOF, PRIOR TO SWITCHING OVER TO THE DEP CTLR, WHERE THE NORMAL SPD LIMIT IS 200 KTS IN CLASS D AIRSPACE. ACFT ARE ALLOWED TO ACCELERATE TO THEIR 0 DEG FLAP MANEUVERING SPD AFTER TKOF, EVEN IF THAT'S IN EXCESS OF 200 KTS. OUR 0 DEG FLAP MANEUVER SPD WAS 220 KTS. THE CAPT WAS FLYING, AND I EXPECTED HIM TO STOP ACCELERATING AT 220 KTS, BUT HE DID NOT. I MENTIONED TO HIM TO WATCH HIS SPD (NOW AT 230 KTS) TO WHICH HE REPLIED, 'THERE'S NO SPD LIMIT HERE.' BY NOW WE WERE ACCELERATING THROUGH 240 KTS. THEN WE WERE SWITCHED OVER TO THE DEP CTLR, WHO INFORMED US THERE WAS NO SPD LIMIT UPON INITIAL CONTACT. THIS 'SPD CTL' TEST PROGRAM AT IAH IS CONFUSING, AND FRANKLY, NON PRODUCTIVE IN MY VIEW. I WILL REVIEW THE NOTAMS CLOSELY WITH THE CAPT PRIOR TO MY NEXT DEP THERE.

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.