Narrative:

Aircraft on modesto two arrival to sfo, FL350, assigned airspeed 250 KTS for spacing. Subsequent descent to FL240 at 250 KTS. At approximately FL300 we were given restr to cross cedes at 11000 ft and 250 KTS. Shortly after, we were told we could increase to 280 KTS. Reaching a point approximately 30 mi from cedes, it became apparent the B737-800 could not make the crossing restr of cedes without a vector. I informed bay approach of the difficulty in meeting their restr and the controller simply stated the crossing restr again. Once again approximately 15 mi from cedes I stated we could not meet the restr at cedes without a vector. Apparently my first request for relief on crossing cedes was not comprehended. On the second request, a different voice responded and said cross cedes at 250 KTS. I crossed cedes at 250 KTS and approximately 14000 ft descending. I presume a supervisor made the decision to have us cross cedes high but on airspeed. My concern is bay approach was not comprehending what I was conveying and may seek punitive action for not meeting the altitude restr at cedes. From the last clearance given, I could not ascertain whether we were authority/authorized to cross at the higher altitude or not. The B737-800 is difficult to descend at any significant rate under normal circumstances, but given 250 KTS speed restr and an unexpected 15 KTS tailwind, the descent rate is further reduced. Only additional drag left was landing gear. First officer was flying.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B738 FLC ASKED FOR XING RESTR RELIEF TWICE BEFORE CTLR ISSUES NEW XING RESTR.

Narrative: ACFT ON MODESTO TWO ARR TO SFO, FL350, ASSIGNED AIRSPD 250 KTS FOR SPACING. SUBSEQUENT DSCNT TO FL240 AT 250 KTS. AT APPROX FL300 WE WERE GIVEN RESTR TO CROSS CEDES AT 11000 FT AND 250 KTS. SHORTLY AFTER, WE WERE TOLD WE COULD INCREASE TO 280 KTS. REACHING A POINT APPROX 30 MI FROM CEDES, IT BECAME APPARENT THE B737-800 COULD NOT MAKE THE XING RESTR OF CEDES WITHOUT A VECTOR. I INFORMED BAY APCH OF THE DIFFICULTY IN MEETING THEIR RESTR AND THE CTLR SIMPLY STATED THE XING RESTR AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN APPROX 15 MI FROM CEDES I STATED WE COULD NOT MEET THE RESTR AT CEDES WITHOUT A VECTOR. APPARENTLY MY FIRST REQUEST FOR RELIEF ON XING CEDES WAS NOT COMPREHENDED. ON THE SECOND REQUEST, A DIFFERENT VOICE RESPONDED AND SAID CROSS CEDES AT 250 KTS. I CROSSED CEDES AT 250 KTS AND APPROX 14000 FT DSNDING. I PRESUME A SUPVR MADE THE DECISION TO HAVE US CROSS CEDES HIGH BUT ON AIRSPD. MY CONCERN IS BAY APCH WAS NOT COMPREHENDING WHAT I WAS CONVEYING AND MAY SEEK PUNITIVE ACTION FOR NOT MEETING THE ALT RESTR AT CEDES. FROM THE LAST CLRNC GIVEN, I COULD NOT ASCERTAIN WHETHER WE WERE AUTH TO CROSS AT THE HIGHER ALT OR NOT. THE B737-800 IS DIFFICULT TO DSND AT ANY SIGNIFICANT RATE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT GIVEN 250 KTS SPD RESTR AND AN UNEXPECTED 15 KTS TAILWIND, THE DSCNT RATE IS FURTHER REDUCED. ONLY ADDITIONAL DRAG LEFT WAS LNDG GEAR. FO WAS FLYING.

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.