On occasion it seems that ATC isn't able to descend you in time in order to establish yourself on the localizer at the published height; this seems to happen more often when you're descending from high altitudes. Is this an error on my part? Should I ask for a decrease in cruising altitude earlier in the flight?Advice appreciated.Ricardo

That's what I do. I step descend my way down 10k at a time.

The problem is:If your flightplan indicates e.g. FL23 and you have requested lower ATC will tell you to climb again to FL23 when it clears you for an IFR approach. Here is what I do:I look up the arrival altitude indicated at the beginning of my destinations's STAR and set my crusing altitude for the flightplan to it. After ATC has cleared me for this altitude after takeoff I request my "real" cruising altitude. Now I can step descent as I please, except terrain prohibits. I simply have to request lower altitudes.Hm, sounds confusing, is pretty simple though.Alex

I hadn't thought of Alex's solution but I will try it. What I do is descend quickly during the first phase of the letdown, about 2300 fpm, and I monitor my progress so that I am losing about 3000 feet per each 10 miles. Then, when I get my runway assignment, I adjust accordingly: straight-in, continue my steep descent, or a circling approach use a shallow descent of 1000 - 1500 fpm. R-

Flying in a Cessna 310 without pressurization I don't want to do any bomb dives :-).Alex

Unless you've got an oxy mask on, you shouldn't be above FL120 anyway unless you're looking for a little high (or low).As far as STAR requirements sometimes there is more than one STAR published or there is just one that applies if your aircraft meets performance restrictions as applies to crossing restrictions.I've been using Radar Contact 3.1 and with its flexibility options on deviating during departure and arrival procedures can safely follow the altitude crossings published with no problem. I can easily apply the altitude changes you recommend by deviating from ATC without getting the flight cancelled during arrival. Generally their stepping procedures have been quite good enough that in many cases it has not been necessary to do this. They seem to start descents quickly enough.