Narrative:

Atlanta approach control expects and encourages pilots operating to/from satellite airports to exceed 200 KIAS when operating below class B airspace. Far 91.117 (aircraft speed) reads, in part: (a) 'unless otherwise authorized by the administrator...' (maximum speed 250 KIAS below 10000 ft MSL). (B) 'unless otherwise authorized by the administrator or required by ATC...' (maximum speed 200 KIAS within class D airspace). (C) 'no person may operate an aircraft in the airspace underlying a class B airspace area designated for an airport...at an indicated speed of more than 200 KTS.' significantly, the above language seemingly prevents ATC to request or approve speeds in excess of 200 KIAS to any aircraft while it is operating below class B airspace. Indeed, atlanta controllers have used terminology such as 'keep your speed up' or 'I need your best forward speed' without reference to the aircraft's position with respect to class B or east airspace. This creates an ambiguous situation. This is a safety matter, as the 200 KIAS limit was imposed at the creation of class B (TCA) airspace in recognition of the high concentration of slower GA traffic operating VFR and with less positive control, transiting the airspace beneath the various floors of the overlying class B airspace. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated they usually operate out of peachtree airport which is located approximately 16 NM north of atl and below the atl class B airspace. He said atl approach controllers often instruct pilots, either arrival or departing, to maintain best speed forward or are asked to keep their speed up. He said most pilots respond by stating they will maintain 200 KTS. He said he has not contacted the approach facility because of company policy not to call.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ALLEGES CTLRS AT ATL TRACON ENCOURAGE ACFT TO FLY IN EXCESS OF 200 KIAS BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE CONTRARY TO FAR 91.117.

Narrative: ATLANTA APCH CTL EXPECTS AND ENCOURAGES PLTS OPERATING TO/FROM SATELLITE ARPTS TO EXCEED 200 KIAS WHEN OPERATING BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE. FAR 91.117 (ACFT SPEED) READS, IN PART: (A) 'UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR...' (MAX SPEED 250 KIAS BELOW 10000 FT MSL). (B) 'UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OR REQUIRED BY ATC...' (MAX SPEED 200 KIAS WITHIN CLASS D AIRSPACE). (C) 'NO PERSON MAY OPERATE AN ACFT IN THE AIRSPACE UNDERLYING A CLASS B AIRSPACE AREA DESIGNATED FOR AN ARPT...AT AN INDICATED SPEED OF MORE THAN 200 KTS.' SIGNIFICANTLY, THE ABOVE LANGUAGE SEEMINGLY PREVENTS ATC TO REQUEST OR APPROVE SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 200 KIAS TO ANY ACFT WHILE IT IS OPERATING BELOW CLASS B AIRSPACE. INDEED, ATLANTA CTLRS HAVE USED TERMINOLOGY SUCH AS 'KEEP YOUR SPEED UP' OR 'I NEED YOUR BEST FORWARD SPEED' WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE ACFT'S POSITION WITH RESPECT TO CLASS B OR E AIRSPACE. THIS CREATES AN AMBIGUOUS SIT. THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER, AS THE 200 KIAS LIMIT WAS IMPOSED AT THE CREATION OF CLASS B (TCA) AIRSPACE IN RECOGNITION OF THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SLOWER GA TFC OPERATING VFR AND WITH LESS POSITIVE CTL, TRANSITING THE AIRSPACE BENEATH THE VARIOUS FLOORS OF THE OVERLYING CLASS B AIRSPACE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THEY USUALLY OPERATE OUT OF PEACHTREE ARPT WHICH IS LOCATED APPROX 16 NM NORTH OF ATL AND BELOW THE ATL CLASS B AIRSPACE. HE SAID ATL APCH CTLRS OFTEN INSTRUCT PLTS, EITHER ARR OR DEPARTING, TO MAINTAIN BEST SPEED FORWARD OR ARE ASKED TO KEEP THEIR SPEED UP. HE SAID MOST PLTS RESPOND BY STATING THEY WILL MAINTAIN 200 KTS. HE SAID HE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE APCH FACILITY BECAUSE OF COMPANY POLICY NOT TO CALL.

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.