Narrative:

Houston approach gives conflicting information and instructions. On the struk 8 arrival to hou, the profile says to cross marit intersection at 250 KTS and 10000 ft. On this occasion, approach told us to delete the speed restr and keep the speed up. We crossed marit at 300+ KTS. The controller (same controller) told us to descend to 6000 ft MSL and to keep the speed up. We took this as meaning for us to go faster than 250 KTS. We maintained our 300 KTS in the descent to 6000 ft MSL. We switched to the next controller. He then asked our speed. We replied 290 KTS. Controller then said we were supposed to be at 250 KTS. We replied the previous controller told us to keep the speed up. The reply was 250 KTS below 10000 ft MSL. So we reduced airspeed to 250 KTS. My question is: 'which way is it supposed to be?' on departures, hou will let aircraft exceed 250 KTS in the climb out below 10000 ft MSL. If it is permitted and the departure, then why not on the arrival? Even different controllers will give different interps and supervision is just as nebulous.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CPR EXECUTIVE JET FLC ARE CONFUSED BY HOU APCH CTLR THAT INSTRUCTED THEM TO KEEP THEIR SPD UP DSNDING THROUGH 10000 FT TO 6000 FT DURING A STAR ARR AND SUBSEQUENT CTLR ADVISING THEM THAT THE MAX SPD IS 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT.

Narrative: HOUSTON APCH GIVES CONFLICTING INFO AND INSTRUCTIONS. ON THE STRUK 8 ARR TO HOU, THE PROFILE SAYS TO CROSS MARIT INTXN AT 250 KTS AND 10000 FT. ON THIS OCCASION, APCH TOLD US TO DELETE THE SPD RESTR AND KEEP THE SPD UP. WE CROSSED MARIT AT 300+ KTS. THE CTLR (SAME CTLR) TOLD US TO DSND TO 6000 FT MSL AND TO KEEP THE SPD UP. WE TOOK THIS AS MEANING FOR US TO GO FASTER THAN 250 KTS. WE MAINTAINED OUR 300 KTS IN THE DSCNT TO 6000 FT MSL. WE SWITCHED TO THE NEXT CTLR. HE THEN ASKED OUR SPD. WE REPLIED 290 KTS. CTLR THEN SAID WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 250 KTS. WE REPLIED THE PREVIOUS CTLR TOLD US TO KEEP THE SPD UP. THE REPLY WAS 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT MSL. SO WE REDUCED AIRSPD TO 250 KTS. MY QUESTION IS: 'WHICH WAY IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE?' ON DEPS, HOU WILL LET ACFT EXCEED 250 KTS IN THE CLBOUT BELOW 10000 FT MSL. IF IT IS PERMITTED AND THE DEP, THEN WHY NOT ON THE ARR? EVEN DIFFERENT CTLRS WILL GIVE DIFFERENT INTERPS AND SUPERVISION IS JUST AS NEBULOUS.

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.