Narrative:

Socal approach assigned 210 KTS prior to turning onto the smo 081 degree radial on the arrival with clearance to fly 070 degree heading after smo vector for a visual approach runway 24R (vice the chart visual procedure). Winds at 9000 ft -- 4000 ft varied from 60 to 40 KTS from the north. This vector (070 degree heading versus 068 degree radial smo) resulted in drift toward the airport. Approach said be prepared for base turn in 3 mi. I asked the first officer to get relief from the 210 KT speed assignment. Fearing radius of turn and overshoot of the runway 24 complex into runway 25 arrs. The first officer obtained relief. Approach said 'normal speed.' we immediately configured and slowed to 170 KTS, gear down, flaps 5 degrees and used 30 degree angle of bank as limited by our flight operations manual. This resulted in only a slight overshoot of runway 24R centerline. Taxiing to the gate, ground asked us to call the TRACON and ask for the supervisor. I did so and was greeted by an irate controller. He had another air carrier sequenced behind us for a straight-in runway 24R that he had to break off to runway 24L because of our speed. I apologized for any problem caused but reminded him of 'normal speed' and my turn radius concerns. I think to the controller in retrospect, 'normal speed' meant I would go faster -- when normal speed to me meant I needed to go slower for turning and landing. I would suggest better clarification between the meaning of 'normal speed' in the controller's handbook and its reference in the aim. The aim needs a specific definition -- not obscure reference in arrivals.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG FLC REQUESTS ADJUSTMENT TO 'NORMAL SPD' FOR VISUAL APCH AND IS GRANTED REQUEST. CTLR EXPECTS ACFT TO INCREASE SPD RATHER THAN SLOW DOWN. SEPARATION PROB RESULTS.

Narrative: SOCAL APCH ASSIGNED 210 KTS PRIOR TO TURNING ONTO THE SMO 081 DEG RADIAL ON THE ARR WITH CLRNC TO FLY 070 DEG HDG AFTER SMO VECTOR FOR A VISUAL APCH RWY 24R (VICE THE CHART VISUAL PROC). WINDS AT 9000 FT -- 4000 FT VARIED FROM 60 TO 40 KTS FROM THE N. THIS VECTOR (070 DEG HDG VERSUS 068 DEG RADIAL SMO) RESULTED IN DRIFT TOWARD THE ARPT. APCH SAID BE PREPARED FOR BASE TURN IN 3 MI. I ASKED THE FO TO GET RELIEF FROM THE 210 KT SPD ASSIGNMENT. FEARING RADIUS OF TURN AND OVERSHOOT OF THE RWY 24 COMPLEX INTO RWY 25 ARRS. THE FO OBTAINED RELIEF. APCH SAID 'NORMAL SPD.' WE IMMEDIATELY CONFIGURED AND SLOWED TO 170 KTS, GEAR DOWN, FLAPS 5 DEGS AND USED 30 DEG ANGLE OF BANK AS LIMITED BY OUR FLT OPS MANUAL. THIS RESULTED IN ONLY A SLIGHT OVERSHOOT OF RWY 24R CTRLINE. TAXIING TO THE GATE, GND ASKED US TO CALL THE TRACON AND ASK FOR THE SUPVR. I DID SO AND WAS GREETED BY AN IRATE CTLR. HE HAD ANOTHER ACR SEQUENCED BEHIND US FOR A STRAIGHT-IN RWY 24R THAT HE HAD TO BREAK OFF TO RWY 24L BECAUSE OF OUR SPD. I APOLOGIZED FOR ANY PROB CAUSED BUT REMINDED HIM OF 'NORMAL SPD' AND MY TURN RADIUS CONCERNS. I THINK TO THE CTLR IN RETROSPECT, 'NORMAL SPD' MEANT I WOULD GO FASTER -- WHEN NORMAL SPD TO ME MEANT I NEEDED TO GO SLOWER FOR TURNING AND LNDG. I WOULD SUGGEST BETTER CLARIFICATION BTWN THE MEANING OF 'NORMAL SPD' IN THE CTLR'S HANDBOOK AND ITS REF IN THE AIM. THE AIM NEEDS A SPECIFIC DEFINITION -- NOT OBSCURE REF IN ARRIVALS.

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.