SKUNK vs BOLDR at 250kts

[Keith Smith]

I hear controllers say this all the time, "UAL1234, cross SKUNK at 12,000 at 250 knots"

The TRACON cheat sheet says the same thing.

The BSR2 arrival, however, states SKUNK at 12k, BOLDR at 10k at 250kts.

In fact, the 250KIAS restriction seems more like a friendly reminder than an instruction since aircraft aren't permitted to exceed 250KIAS below 10,000, unless they're unable to fly at less than 250kts for safety.

[bradl]

There is also this. They may issue the crossing restriction earlier, to set up sequencing. While it's wonderful in theory that arrivals from the south and on the PYE1 could get 28L (per TipToe Visual) and those from the east get 28R (Quiet Bridge), major sequencing would have to be done between large and heavy aircraft coming in. Plus one may want the right and not the left, for some odd reason. The left will certainly benefit those on the MOD2 as it puts them closer to the gate, saving fuel. But it's mainly the sequencing and separation in the air that they do this.

Remember, charts are basically a guideline for what needs to be done for an arrival to a given airport, especially in the event of no/lost communications. In that aspect, following the chart to the letter will get you down the safest. But ATC could issue further instructions that aren't depicted on the chart. Does that mean ATC is wrong? no.. But they know their airspace, and what they are doing. That's why they're ATC. :)

BL.

[Keith Smith]

Brad, I'm with you 100%, but I still think controllers are consistently issuing the 250kt restriction at SKUNK because of the typo on the cheat sheet.

[rstone]

Thats wasnt a typo Keith.. that was done to slow traffic down to better sequence traffic when traffic is heavy. Feel free to slow them down at boldr, but if your getting slammed you might regret it later. :)

[Keith Smith]

OK then, thanks for the info.

[Dan Sprouse]

Ryan is correct here KEITH. The people that worked on creating these SOP's and Cheet Sheets put a lot of thought into them. We have traffic slow at skunk in order to have better control over the flow on the BSR2. Remember that the PYE1 and Goldn4 get merged in with it when in west flow. If your working a major event or the traffic happens to be heavy you will see very quickly why they have been asked to reduce their speeds.

Often we ask them to reduce speed to 200-220 before Menlo in order to help with the intercept of the LOC for the 28's also so you want to have that traffic in trail remain there and not up someones exhaust duct. :(

This is a big help when you have one or two that are on text and your not a speed typest or they do not respond until they answer first, (well there went 25 seconds before he started to do as we asked).