Captain of an ATR72 (AT72) exceeded the regulatory airspeed underlying class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	416940
Time
Date	199810
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8000 msl bound upper : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl tower : mdw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	ATR 72
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent other
Route In Use	arrival other arrival star : star
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	other other : other pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 3900 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	416940
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

Depending on the landing direction in atl, you may actually be flying the STAR below class B airspace. Such was the case, when at 8000 ft you must slow to 200 KTS from the atl 42 to 35 DME. I was doing routine arrival paperwork when ATC called and asked our speed. It was the captain's leg and he was doing about 230 KTS below class B in this area. When I asked the captain about his speed he said he didn't realize he was in that area. Safety was not compromised and there was no conflict. Contributing factors would be my doing paperwork and not closely monitoring the instruments, the captain's lack of situational awareness, the fact that FAA/ATC should not have a route under class B for high performance aircraft, and the fatigue associated with a regional airline schedule (being the 6TH leg of a 7 leg day).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN ATR72 (AT72) EXCEEDED THE REGULATORY AIRSPD UNDERLYING CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: DEPENDING ON THE LNDG DIRECTION IN ATL, YOU MAY ACTUALLY BE FLYING THE STAR BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE. SUCH WAS THE CASE, WHEN AT 8000 FT YOU MUST SLOW TO 200 KTS FROM THE ATL 42 TO 35 DME. I WAS DOING ROUTINE ARR PAPERWORK WHEN ATC CALLED AND ASKED OUR SPD. IT WAS THE CAPT'S LEG AND HE WAS DOING ABOUT 230 KTS BELOW CLASS B IN THIS AREA. WHEN I ASKED THE CAPT ABOUT HIS SPD HE SAID HE DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS IN THAT AREA. SAFETY WAS NOT COMPROMISED AND THERE WAS NO CONFLICT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WOULD BE MY DOING PAPERWORK AND NOT CLOSELY MONITORING THE INSTS, THE CAPT'S LACK OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, THE FACT THAT FAA/ATC SHOULD NOT HAVE A RTE UNDER CLASS B FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT, AND THE FATIGUE ASSOCIATED WITH A REGIONAL AIRLINE SCHEDULE (BEING THE 6TH LEG OF A 7 LEG DAY).

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.