Originally Posted by
GogglesPisano
Do you really think that flying 10 knots below the placard speed is not inefficient? What’s the point? Do you really think a 737 is going to fall out of the sky because you don’t have Flaps 5 in the terminal environment? I routinely wait until 10 knots above the min speed before selecting the next flap setting. All it takes is a gust to put you into the clacker. And a flap overspeed is a lot bigger deal than exceeding Mmo in cruise.
As far as the WDR analysis is concerned, I’m onboard with independent and silent analysis. And since you raised the issue I’m happy to see the fleet leadership has toned down the “dwell time,” admonishments and emphasized slow and careful analysis prior to taxi — as evidenced in a recent fleet newsletter.
A 737 certainly descends better at 240 and flaps 5 than 210 flaps 5. Again, time and place dependent. The hazard of "mandating" or making it a "training" dictate is that it become one size fits all, leading to arriving at 1000' with too much energy necessitating a go-around...how'd that fuel savings work out for you then...?