Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
ATC changed our arrival to the GUSHR3 and gave us direct to REFYN and a descent. We were several miles from REFYN when ATC asked our speed. We replied 300KTS. Then ATC replied if we knew about the speed note on the arrival and it was 280KTS. I understood that because we were not on a published portion of the arrival due to the direct to REFYN that the speed restriction was not applicable. We had several miles to REFYN and had planned to slow to 280KTS by REFYN as the arrival states to cross at. At that point we slowed to 280KTS and continued the rest of the arrival and landed with no other event.
The captain and I are both unclear about whether the 'descend via mach until 280 KIAS' restriction applies to aircraft that are NOT on a published portion of the arrival. Nearly all of the RNAV arrivals into Houston Intercontinental include this note. The note does not state that it applies to aircraft not on the published route of the arrival. If it does apply to such aircraft; we would like to know where it begins; as Center will occasionally issue substantial direct-to clearances with descents that would have the aircraft at 280 KIAS for an inordinate amount of time if this restriction was applicable. Additionally; if this note does apply to aircraft not on the published arrival route; do other speed restrictions at other fixes apply when vectored off the published arrival route? In essence; are we required or expected to slow when passing abeam a fix with a speed restriction?
EMB-145XR flight crew reported they were advised by ATC of non-compliance with a speed restriction on the GUSHR3 arrival into IAH. The flight crew was confused about the advisory; since they were not on the published arrival; but were cleared direct to a point on the arrival.