Dave71k

Sorry to start up an old post. But I just had this whole gear down to kill speed issue on VATSIM just now. I was told to descend to FL200 and be level by a way point. So I did all in line with the STAR etc mostly in VNAV I jumped in to FLC a couple of times just so I could get her exactly where I wanted her. I then get handed off to another controller who says....I want to send you straight in can you increase you rate of descent and cross at FL090. So now I have to loose 11,000ft in virutally no space at all with a 40knot tail wind. I've got speed brakes out, engines idle, descending in FLC at 250knot and I'm no where close I don't like to come in to fast but I decided to try 270knots in the descent but still wasn't even close. Only option drop the anchors. Gear down set speed to 250knots and I sail on down...Well more drop like a brick. Speed holds nicely at 250knots and I smoothly arrive at my target alitude for the approach and then on to the ILS. Safe to say I wouldn't of been able to do this with out lowering the gear. So my thoughts on the whole matter are....you shouldn't need to do it in everyday operations but from time to time something will happen whether it be weather or a request from ATC that will require you to drop a lot of altitude very quickly so then you use every tool you have in the box. And why not as long as you don't over stress anything.