Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 349; Flight Crew Type 9000
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
CWRLD 4 Arrival to MCO RWY 17L. Two miles prior to LAMMA vectored heading 180 and descend to 8;000 feet. HDG Select 180 and Level Change at 250 knots. Vector 200 and descent 4;000 feet. We asked for a descent due to being slightly high. ATC responded; 'Unable;' due to airspace. I slowed to 210 knots to avoid being high and fast. As we slowed; ATC asked if we had slowed and not complied with the STAR. We said we slowed to 210 and then accelerated back to 250 to comply with the Controller's request. Our issue is that we were vectored off the STAR prior to reaching a speed restriction point (LAMMA). A speed clearance was never issued by ATC; but they wanted us to maintain 250 knots. They knew our situation being high (due to requesting lower); but still expected us to remain fast. Simple clarification of required speed both from us and ATC may have prevented this.
Air carrier Captain reported an airspeed deviation during arrival to MCO while on the CWRLD 4.