A captain new to the airbus was on altitude; but fast passing gramm intersection on the lax river tw...

Narrative:

Just passed gramm intersection at FL190 assigned and 280 KTS. Was cleared to descend via the arrival; assigned 250 KTS; and cleared for the 24R approach. In order to try to make the 14000 ft restriction on the STAR; I disengaged the autopilot and increased the descent rate; also extending full speed brakes. I wasn't sure at this point if I could make the restriction; but I decided to make the altitude and let the speed increase. I made the restriction; but the added speed had closed the distance on parallel traffic for 25L. Socal approach controller asked about my speed; and first officer admitted we had been going faster. Being pretty new to the airbus; I wasn't sure if we could make the restriction; and wasn't sure how much extra speed would be the result of the increased descent. What I should have done is tell socal as soon as we were assigned 250 KTS that we couldn't make the restriction; thus giving socal the option to change the clearance or vector us away. I had thought of an alternate plan; to slow to 245 KTS (below the landing gear limit speed); lower the landing gear; and try to make the restriction that way; but that still requires a speed deviation; and doesn't guarantee that the altitude restriction can be met anyway.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Captain new to the Airbus was on altitude; but fast passing GRAMM Intersection on the LAX RIVER TWO ARRIVAL. ATC questioned the crew's speed; but allowed them to continue while slowing with Runway 25L traffic in sight.

Narrative: Just passed GRAMM Intersection at FL190 assigned and 280 KTS. Was cleared to descend via the arrival; assigned 250 KTS; and cleared for the 24R Approach. In order to try to make the 14000 FT restriction on the STAR; I disengaged the autopilot and increased the descent rate; also extending full speed brakes. I wasn't sure at this point if I could make the restriction; but I decided to make the altitude and let the speed increase. I made the restriction; but the added speed had closed the distance on parallel traffic for 25L. SOCAL Approach Controller asked about my speed; and First Officer admitted we had been going faster. Being pretty new to the Airbus; I wasn't sure if we could make the restriction; and wasn't sure how much extra speed would be the result of the increased descent. What I should have done is tell SOCAL as soon as we were assigned 250 KTS that we couldn't make the restriction; thus giving SOCAL the option to change the clearance or vector us away. I had thought of an alternate plan; to slow to 245 KTS (below the landing gear limit speed); lower the landing gear; and try to make the restriction that way; but that still requires a speed deviation; and doesn't guarantee that the altitude restriction can be met anyway.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	850383
Time
Date	200909
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SCT.TRACON
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Airbus Industrie Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR RIVER 2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180 Flight Crew Total 16000 Flight Crew Type 140
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 144 Flight Crew Total 15233 Flight Crew Type 8233
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Speed All Types

A captain new to the airbus was on altitude; but fast passing gramm intersection on the lax river two arrival. ATC questioned the crew's speed; but allowed them to continue while slowing with runway 25L traffic in sight.