Thread: Tool of the day
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Old 05-22-2015, 04:30 PM
  #6297  
ATCBob
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Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: Separating and expediting
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Originally Posted by skypilot35 View Post
How about "Otis 2345, cleared visual approach runway 25".

To me (and the FAA) this means speed is at the discretion of the pilot.

Is it inferred or expected that you maintain 180kts to final?
Without restating the speed, we expect speed will be at your discretion.

He's talking about like on the downwind, when you're given "fly heading 270, reduce speed to 210" which you do, but then some minutes later decide you're going to slow to 180. You can't do that! The only reason you don't get called on a pilot deviation is because we can't see your indicated speed to prove it. But if we say a specific speed, that means you're in a string and we're relying on everyone keeping it to maintain spacing and separation. The more people who cheat, the more other pilots get screwed over when they need to get pulled out and resequenced, and ultimately the more buffer room we need to build in (which means lower arrival rate and longer ground delays for everyone).

It's not a problem if you need to slow, just tell us first so we can adjust everyone else without having to give panic vectors.
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