B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Situational Awareness; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airspace Structure; Procedure; Human Factors
Approximately 20 miles SW of RBV inbound to EWR; and level at 10000 feet and about 305 kts; we received a clearance from ATC to; 'descend to 7000 and keep your current speed below 10000 to 7000. I'll tell you when to slow'. We confirmed the clearance and I started a descent to 7000 at 305 kts. After several minutes at 7000 we received a hand off without a speed reduction. We queried the next controller about our speed and his response was; 'I don't care'. At that point I slowed to 250 kts. The rest of the flight was uneventful. It wasn't clear to me at the time that ATC is not authorized to clear me for a speed above 250 below 10000 feet and I should have rejected the clearance.
ATC controller directed a B-737 crew inbound to EWR to descend to 7000 ft during the arrival and to keep the aircraft speed at 305 knots below 10;000 ft altitude.