Have you ever had this scenario?
Number one requests a visual approach, you give it, and they go out farther than you would have taken them for the ILS?
In our manual under visual approaches it states: "To expedite traffic at any time..." which we take to mean you'll want a shorter length final than you would normally get with an ILS.
If you request a visual approach and its granted, don't go out to a 10 mile final if you know there's traffic behind you. What you may find happening is that you're kept on a heading for longer to make sure you can't go wide, or you don't get the visual approach when you really want it. OK?
What about an aircraft who's number 5 or 6 saying "we're visual if that helps" !!! What planet...
As far as having the wheels down after departure, I wait til the aircraft is at about 2000 feet, make a polite enquiry and take it from there. No problems with subsequent departures since if its the same route its at least two minutes anyway.
[This message has been edited by cossack (edited 05 October 2000).]