Crj, on approach to cvg, speed reduction prompts questions from ATC.

Attributes
ACN	582625
Time
Date	200305
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	intersection : fraze
State Reference	OH
Altitude	msl single value : 8000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cvg.tracon tower : new.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival star : cince
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5525 flight time type : 3180
ASRS Report	582625
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ATC had told our flight to expect the visual approach to runway 18L at cvg. Arriving from the northeast along the cince four STAR, ATC cleared us directly to fraze and issued a descent clearance. No speed assignment was issued. We slowed to 200 KTS and configured to flaps 20 degrees for the descent approximately 7 NM northeast of fraze and 12 NM northeast of the runway 18L threshold. ATC was unhappy that we had slowed and asked if we had been assigned a slower speed or if we had slowed on our own. I explained that we had slowed on our own in order to configure for the descent and approach. ATC said that slowing causes difficulties with the traffic flow behind us. I acknowledged and offered to speed up. ATC said our speed was fine. We called the airport in sight and were subsequently cleared for the visual approach. A min or so later, ATC asked if we had been cleared for the visual approach. We reminded ATC that we had called the airport in sight and been cleared for the visual approach. ATC then handed us off to the tower.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ, ON APCH TO CVG, SPD REDUCTION PROMPTS QUESTIONS FROM ATC.

Narrative: ATC HAD TOLD OUR FLT TO EXPECT THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 18L AT CVG. ARRIVING FROM THE NE ALONG THE CINCE FOUR STAR, ATC CLRED US DIRECTLY TO FRAZE AND ISSUED A DSCNT CLRNC. NO SPD ASSIGNMENT WAS ISSUED. WE SLOWED TO 200 KTS AND CONFIGURED TO FLAPS 20 DEGS FOR THE DSCNT APPROX 7 NM NE OF FRAZE AND 12 NM NE OF THE RWY 18L THRESHOLD. ATC WAS UNHAPPY THAT WE HAD SLOWED AND ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN ASSIGNED A SLOWER SPD OR IF WE HAD SLOWED ON OUR OWN. I EXPLAINED THAT WE HAD SLOWED ON OUR OWN IN ORDER TO CONFIGURE FOR THE DSCNT AND APCH. ATC SAID THAT SLOWING CAUSES DIFFICULTIES WITH THE TFC FLOW BEHIND US. I ACKNOWLEDGED AND OFFERED TO SPD UP. ATC SAID OUR SPD WAS FINE. WE CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. A MIN OR SO LATER, ATC ASKED IF WE HAD BEEN CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. WE REMINDED ATC THAT WE HAD CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND BEEN CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. ATC THEN HANDED US OFF TO THE TWR.

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.