Originally Posted by
vilas
.........In airbus when you are given a heading or you want to turn you can set heading and pull to get in HDG mode or you can first pull to get in HDG mode............I see people doing either way. But SOP wants you to pull first. Is it splitting hair?
You have answered your own question in a later post, but as you know; on Airbus FBW if you select more than a 180° change and then pull HDG, the aircraft might turn the wrong way - it calculates shortest turn to the new HDG. Therefore the SOP is to pull HDG knob first before changing the heading, to ensure the aircraft turns in the direction you want.
Did they change this software in later models?
On the OP question; there are rare occasions when ATC cut you in closer than you expected or asked you to keep the speed up, when I might ask: "Flap x as soon as you can", and we both understand that means when the speed has dropped suitably below Vfe next.