B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 338
Time Pressure; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Weather
Because of weather we were moved from the BLUEM Arrival over to the NITZR3. I am writing this report because even under the most ideal circumstances; the vertical profile of the Runway 35 procedure is a challenge (specifically NITZR 280 kts/12000A continuing to SHILD 230 kts/9000). The speed and altitude restrictions make this section right near the edge of the aircraft's capability. We were in a moderately loaded 737-800 with no real adverse wind or other variable and it still required intervention to comply with the arrival as written. More weight or a tailwind would surely make this arrival even more difficult.
B737 Captain reported challenges flying the MSP NITZR 3 RNAV to Runway 35 with speed and altitude constraints at NITZR and SHILD. The 230 kts/9;000 ft at SHILD is about 33 NM south of MSP.