Drifter
How well put! It is EXTREMELY frustrating to know that the aircraft I fly is capable of so much more than it is permitted to do. The 'useful' clearances have almost all been issued retrospectively, once the Captain and Crew at the time have done the job that HAS to be done and forced the issue. The aircraft is now roughly 4years old - that's over 10% of its service life (guessed at 35years like the current ones - not a number designed to start a b!tch-fest). The delays are mind-boggling, anyone in charge without an axe to grind would WANT an asset to do as much as possible - surely?