Another speed & crossing Q (sorry)
 

poked around & not really finding what I'm looking for using search

Let's say we are 50 mi north of fix XYZ.
ATC says "cross XYZ at FL190, 280 kts"
OK so we start down to meet the restriction, typically at 320 kts
During the decent ATC issues descend & maintain 15,000. Nothing about the speed part. I'm still doing 320 kts at this point

I understand we no longer need to cross XYZ at FL190, but what about the speed? Do we still need to cross XYZ @ 280 at the new ALT?
What if they also take you off the arrival path with a heading like "turn 20 right for traffic?"

I'm thinking the speed part still sticks? I realize asking ATC fixes everything but there's been times when you can't get a word in. In these cases I've just slowed to 280 at the fix or abeam it if given a heading

thanks

When in doubt...ask.

You are still on the hook for speeds if on the arrival. If they take you off the arrival you don't have to comply with the speeds since you aren't crossing any fix.

In that case the old restrictions are gone...

there is nothing he said about an arrival.

Whatever...doesn't matter...if you aren't crossing a fix you don't have to comply with restrictions at a fix

You guys descend at those altitudes with the autopilot, I'm assuming 99% of the time. What if for some reason or another...ATC, picked up a tailwind, etc...the spoilers need to be deployed for rate of descent or speed...does the autopilot have the capability of doing that automatically? Or does the PF have to manually throw out the boards to help get/slow down?

Depends on the plane. External factors are my job and I have to change descent angle, descent point or add drag.

My jet will almost never make a speed restriction.

The Boeing/Honeywells give you a CDU message "DRAG REQUIRED."

Good stuff, thanks.

On a related note, partially more of an ATC question I suppose, but... I understand speed restrictions motoring down an arrival, get people slowed down and spaced/sequenced out. However, with regard to altitudes, why are they so low on most arrivals into the big bravo airports? Crossing a fix @ 10-14K ~40 miles out only to be on a 10,000ft downwind seems pretty inefficient. It's even more puzzling when that scenario plays out, you get to the field, and there's no other arrivals. CVG for example

Here is another scenario:

On an arrival and a close in fix has an AT 190 speed with no altitude restrictions. Lets say you are doing 250 and 10 miles from the AT 190 they assign you 210 knots. By the time you are slowed you are 6 miles from the fix.

Do you then slow to the 190?

The cautious side of me says absolutely. It's a hard limit and you are still on the arrival. Typically you'll be told "delete the speed restriction at XYZ." This particular airport, no such verbage is issued.

The practical side says no. You were assigned a speed to help out their spacing, you're not helping by slowing a further 20 knots almost immediately after assigned 220.