Narrative:

When given holding instructions at altitude, approximately FL240, we asked to slow for fuel considerations. Told to maintain 250 KTS. Approaching the fix, we were descended and we asked if we could slow. We then slowed to our minimum maneuvering speed for a clean confign (239 KTS). The wind was at least 50 KTS from the west and with the turn to the east, our turn radius at 30 degree bank exceeded the holding airspace. The controller told us we were 1 1/2 mi outside the holding airspace and to tighten the turn. We complied. The controller then asked what our speed was and told us that the holding airspeed should be 210 KTS. This situation is very rare for air carrier jets to hold with flaps and slats extended at such a low altitude. We are always very conscious of fuel. After further review of the STAR we noted a remark for the holding pattern prior to this that 'from 6001 ft to 14000 ft holding airspeed should be 210 KTS. We should have questioned our speed because of the low altitude we were holding at, but a simple radio call from center to slow to 210 KTS approaching the fix could have helped. When you are being controled at large airports, they are very speed sensitive and will normally give you the speed they want you to hold. In the future, it would be best that we all know what speed is wanted. If there had not been such a strong wind, it would never have been a factor either. The FMS was programmed for the altitude but must have set speed for confign which was clean speed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 ON DSCNT INTO ZNY AREA HOLDS OVER RBV, NJ. THE ACFT SPD WHILE HOLDING IS TOO HIGH FOR THE ALT THEY ARE HOLDING AT, SO IT EXCEEDS THE PATTERN SPDS AND THE HOLDING PATTERN AIRSPACE.

Narrative: WHEN GIVEN HOLDING INSTRUCTIONS AT ALT, APPROX FL240, WE ASKED TO SLOW FOR FUEL CONSIDERATIONS. TOLD TO MAINTAIN 250 KTS. APCHING THE FIX, WE WERE DSNDED AND WE ASKED IF WE COULD SLOW. WE THEN SLOWED TO OUR MINIMUM MANEUVERING SPD FOR A CLEAN CONFIGN (239 KTS). THE WIND WAS AT LEAST 50 KTS FROM THE W AND WITH THE TURN TO THE E, OUR TURN RADIUS AT 30 DEG BANK EXCEEDED THE HOLDING AIRSPACE. THE CTLR TOLD US WE WERE 1 1/2 MI OUTSIDE THE HOLDING AIRSPACE AND TO TIGHTEN THE TURN. WE COMPLIED. THE CTLR THEN ASKED WHAT OUR SPD WAS AND TOLD US THAT THE HOLDING AIRSPD SHOULD BE 210 KTS. THIS SIT IS VERY RARE FOR ACR JETS TO HOLD WITH FLAPS AND SLATS EXTENDED AT SUCH A LOW ALT. WE ARE ALWAYS VERY CONSCIOUS OF FUEL. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW OF THE STAR WE NOTED A REMARK FOR THE HOLDING PATTERN PRIOR TO THIS THAT 'FROM 6001 FT TO 14000 FT HOLDING AIRSPD SHOULD BE 210 KTS. WE SHOULD HAVE QUESTIONED OUR SPD BECAUSE OF THE LOW ALT WE WERE HOLDING AT, BUT A SIMPLE RADIO CALL FROM CTR TO SLOW TO 210 KTS APCHING THE FIX COULD HAVE HELPED. WHEN YOU ARE BEING CTLED AT LARGE ARPTS, THEY ARE VERY SPD SENSITIVE AND WILL NORMALLY GIVE YOU THE SPD THEY WANT YOU TO HOLD. IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD BE BEST THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT SPD IS WANTED. IF THERE HAD NOT BEEN SUCH A STRONG WIND, IT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN A FACTOR EITHER. THE FMS WAS PROGRAMMED FOR THE ALT BUT MUST HAVE SET SPD FOR CONFIGN WHICH WAS CLEAN SPD.

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.