Narrative:

Both the copilot and I misread the gland six arrival chart to expect clearance to cross 'gland' at 10000' and 250 KTS. Actually, it said cross 'gland' at 250 KTS, expect clearance to cross at 10000'. When we were cleared to 'cross gland at 10000'' we discussed the clearance, and decided that since the controller did not give a speed restriction, none was required. We were switched from center to approach at gland. The controller asked our airspeed and we told him it was 290 KTS. He said it should have been 250 KTS since that was a 'mandatory' not an 'expect' restriction. He said the slower speed was important for vectoring onto the approach. It difficult to read small print on approach charts. Pilots anticipate mandatory restrictions only on profile descent charts. You see what you expect to see. Speed restriction not given by controller when 10000' altitude restriction given, since it was on the chart. I recommend an underline, shadow, or some other highlight for mandatory altitude or airspeed restrictions on nonprofile charts. Controllers should restate mandatory airspeed restrictions when altitude restriction is transmitted. Pilots should keep head out of ---.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG FLT CREW FAILS TO COMPLY WITH SPEED RESTRICTION AT 'GLAND' ON GLAND SIX ARR TO IAH.

Narrative: BOTH THE COPLT AND I MISREAD THE GLAND SIX ARR CHART TO EXPECT CLRNC TO CROSS 'GLAND' AT 10000' AND 250 KTS. ACTUALLY, IT SAID CROSS 'GLAND' AT 250 KTS, EXPECT CLRNC TO CROSS AT 10000'. WHEN WE WERE CLRED TO 'CROSS GLAND AT 10000'' WE DISCUSSED THE CLRNC, AND DECIDED THAT SINCE THE CTLR DID NOT GIVE A SPD RESTRICTION, NONE WAS REQUIRED. WE WERE SWITCHED FROM CENTER TO APCH AT GLAND. THE CTLR ASKED OUR AIRSPD AND WE TOLD HIM IT WAS 290 KTS. HE SAID IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 250 KTS SINCE THAT WAS A 'MANDATORY' NOT AN 'EXPECT' RESTRICTION. HE SAID THE SLOWER SPD WAS IMPORTANT FOR VECTORING ONTO THE APCH. IT DIFFICULT TO READ SMALL PRINT ON APCH CHARTS. PLTS ANTICIPATE MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS ONLY ON PROFILE DSCNT CHARTS. YOU SEE WHAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE. SPD RESTRICTION NOT GIVEN BY CTLR WHEN 10000' ALT RESTRICTION GIVEN, SINCE IT WAS ON THE CHART. I RECOMMEND AN UNDERLINE, SHADOW, OR SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHT FOR MANDATORY ALT OR AIRSPD RESTRICTIONS ON NONPROFILE CHARTS. CTLRS SHOULD RESTATE MANDATORY AIRSPD RESTRICTIONS WHEN ALT RESTRICTION IS TRANSMITTED. PLTS SHOULD KEEP HEAD OUT OF ---.

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.