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Thread: 180 KIAS to 6NM
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Old 3rd March 2026 | 17:05
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+TSRA
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Joined: Oct 2007
: ATPL
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As pilots, we can refuse any such speed instruction but it can be an invidious position to be in.
And?

Whether you will incite anger or resentment in others is not at issue - you are the one flying the airplane, not ATC. If you determine that you are unable to meet your company stabilized approach criteria with the instructions given to you by ATC, say "unable" and then tell them what you can do. While I agree with everyone above that we have tools in the toolbox that we can use to better manage the situation, most of which I use myself, "unable" is another useful tool if your ability or comfort level is not up to the instruction, or if it truly is an unreasonable request for the approach being flown.

If you listen to any of the YouTube conversations between pilots and controllers where there is conflict following an instruction, there is often a lot of blithering and blathering from the pilot about company procedures, that they're flying a big, heavy airplane, or how it's only ever at xyz airport that this happens. Very few times do you hear "unable, max (min) allowable speed is xxx knots." That ends the argument, even if it means you have to be resequenced. That why no one posts the conversations where the pilots and controllers are working together - they don't get the likes and subscribers.
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