EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared to descend via the arrival into ZZZ. During cruise; our altitude was FL290; and approximately 300 KIAS. Once I initiated the descent I maintained my speed; and had planned a higher than normal rate due to a tailwind and a groundspeed of about 530 knots; therefore our speed remained higher even with lower thrust. Around the ZZZZZ intersection on the arrival; ATC questioned our airspeed; which was about 305-310 knots. At that point; ATC vectored us off of the arrival and an amended altitude. ATC said we should have been at 280 per charted speeds on the arrival. We complied with ATC instructions; and discussed between ourselves the restrictions on the arrival. The first charted speed restriction is at ZZZZZ1; three intersections ahead of us on the arrival. Also; per the note on the arrival; it instructs us to maintain our Mach number until intercepting 280 knots; then maintain that until slowed by the STAR. Our current Mach number was above 280 knots; and we were not to be slowed by the STAR until the ZZZZZ1 at 250 knot restriction. ATC later recleared us to the ZZZZZ1 intersection and to descend via. The following controller then vectored us off again for a runway change.Threats during the arrival were due to our higher than expected airspeed; with a possible pending loss of separation. We were given a vector before that happened. Our error was our airspeed being higher than intended by the arrival to sequence in with other arriving traffic. Contributing to the error; was that it was our last leg home and we weren't maintaining a level of vigilance that we should have been.I think a point of clarification would be appropriate. When descending; if our Mach; or speed is above the 280; do we slow to 280 before we descend? At what point would we have slowed on this arrival; if that is the case.
I was the pilot monitoring; the First Officer was the pilot flying. We were initially cleared to descend via the arrival into ZZZ. This was the anticipated arrival from when we left and was briefed by the First Officer as well as the anticipated approach to the runway. ATC gave us the clearance to descend via and the First Officer set 8;000 feet and was verified. As I was gathering landing information and ATIS we were given an amended altitude to 14;000 feet; but were currently around 24;000-20;000 feet. The First Officer set the altitude to 14;000 feet and was verified. I then switched off COM1 to make a goodbye PA to the passengers. After returning to COM1 First Officer said we were cleared to descend via again and had set 8;000 feet which we verified. The First Officer was following the Vertical Path Indicator (VPI). Around the ZZZZZ2 intersection ATC asked us to turn 20 degrees right for spacing and asked what our indicated airspeed was. I looked and responded '315 knots' and then knew immediately what happened. ATC then told us that the arrival should have had us back to 280 knots by now; which I replied 'Roger; correcting.' The First Officer [used] Touch Control Steering (TCS) on the autopilot and opened the speed brakes to immediately slow to 280 knots and stated he was planning on slowing to 250 knots at ZZZZZ1 because they had cancelled our descend via clearance earlier when they gave us 14;000 feet and the new descend via clearance had seemed to confuse him a little. After slowing we were cleared direct ZZZZZ1 and cleared to descend via once again and had no further issues going into ZZZ.As pilot monitoring; I was busy gathering arrival information and making a PA to the passengers; but ultimately failed at my job to monitor and crosscheck the pilot flying. Even though the First Officer had been confused about when to follow the speeds on the arrival ultimately I know that unless they cancel the speed you are still required to follow it; and I should have caught this error.Even though I felt as if I had started gathering the arrival information early enough; it proved that to be false. I need to be more proactive in gathering and setting arrival info and completing the passenger PA prior to descent so that I may be of better help to my pilot flying.
Embraer EMB-145 flight crew reported descending with excessive speed due to misinterpretation of the charted speed restriction.