Request to 'keep your speed up' when below TCA floor at 230 KTS.

Attributes
ACN	113551
Time
Date	198906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : ont
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	113551
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Coming in on the macey nine arrival we were cleared to 40 out of atl at 9000'. We were already in descent with an IAS of 240 K or so with a glide slope of about 300 K. We leveled off at 9000' approximately 40 NM northeast of atl and about 39 or 38 NM approach asked for our speed. I replied '230 KIAS'. As we cruised on towards atl my first officer and I began to discuss our speed with reference to 91.70(C). At 230 KIAS within 35 NM northeast of atl we were under the TCA at 9000' MSL and technically in violation of 91.70. As we began this discussion atl approach asked us to 'keep your speed up as long as possible' to which we replied 'roger, we'll keep our speed up'. I wonder if this falls into the category of 'unless otherwise authorized by the administrator', giving us the 'legal' right to exceed the speed prescribed in 91.70(C). This type of clearance occurs daily in atlanta when approach requires a high speed and then vectors the aircraft into a position below the TCA. The question I'd like to see answered is: when we are requested to maintain a high speed, and then given an altitude below the TCA are we in violation of 91.70(C)? P.south. And what about the reverse case. I.east, if we are given an altitude outside the TCA and then told to maintain speed and see that soon we'll be below it, should we just slow down? Request clarification? Or what?

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REQUEST TO 'KEEP YOUR SPEED UP' WHEN BELOW TCA FLOOR AT 230 KTS.

Narrative: COMING IN ON THE MACEY NINE ARRIVAL WE WERE CLRED TO 40 OUT OF ATL AT 9000'. WE WERE ALREADY IN DSCNT WITH AN IAS OF 240 K OR SO WITH A GLIDE SLOPE OF ABOUT 300 K. WE LEVELED OFF AT 9000' APPROX 40 NM NE OF ATL AND ABOUT 39 OR 38 NM APCH ASKED FOR OUR SPEED. I REPLIED '230 KIAS'. AS WE CRUISED ON TOWARDS ATL MY F/O AND I BEGAN TO DISCUSS OUR SPEED WITH REFERENCE TO 91.70(C). AT 230 KIAS WITHIN 35 NM NE OF ATL WE WERE UNDER THE TCA AT 9000' MSL AND TECHNICALLY IN VIOLATION OF 91.70. AS WE BEGAN THIS DISCUSSION ATL APCH ASKED US TO 'KEEP YOUR SPEED UP AS LONG AS POSSIBLE' TO WHICH WE REPLIED 'ROGER, WE'LL KEEP OUR SPEED UP'. I WONDER IF THIS FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF 'UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR', GIVING US THE 'LEGAL' RIGHT TO EXCEED THE SPEED PRESCRIBED IN 91.70(C). THIS TYPE OF CLRNC OCCURS DAILY IN ATLANTA WHEN APCH REQUIRES A HIGH SPEED AND THEN VECTORS THE ACFT INTO A POSITION BELOW THE TCA. THE QUESTION I'D LIKE TO SEE ANSWERED IS: WHEN WE ARE REQUESTED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH SPEED, AND THEN GIVEN AN ALT BELOW THE TCA ARE WE IN VIOLATION OF 91.70(C)? P.S. AND WHAT ABOUT THE REVERSE CASE. I.E, IF WE ARE GIVEN AN ALT OUTSIDE THE TCA AND THEN TOLD TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND SEE THAT SOON WE'LL BE BELOW IT, SHOULD WE JUST SLOW DOWN? REQUEST CLARIFICATION? OR WHAT?

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.