"Descend FL130, level ......... "
Apologies if this is a revisited topic....
"Flipflop 123, descend FL130 to be level GWC"
"Descend FL130 level GWC, Flipflop 123"
"Flipflop 123, contact London frequency 123.45"
"London 123.45, Flipflop 123"
"London, Flipflop 123 descending FL130 to GWC"
"Flipflop 123, descend FL120"
We are currently passing FL150 with high speed (about to reduce!) and the speedbrake out. Can we now reduce our rate of descent as I believe our restriction at GWC has been cancelled. However, the chaps next to me who have far more experience and responsibility say that we still have to make the 130 at GWC. I was under the impression that the rules changed in 1997. Often it's too busy to trouble the controller to ask, so we make the 130 anyway. Obviously such situations are repeated all over the UK and do result in extra periods of flying level (bad for noise, fuel consumption etc).
Finally my questions - who is right in the above scenario, and what is the reason that we have such restrictions in the first place when they often seem to be subsequently lifted?
Thankyou in advance for answering my little bugbear!