Hi Wardeep. Discussions are taking place with a view to changing the standard speed to 170kts to 5DME but I understand that there are some major problems. It's very difficult to accommodate all preferences - Conc like 190, some of you guys prefer 170, 757s would prefer less than 160, etc. One or two airlines will happily do 200+ to 4DME!!!
I will always accommodate speed requests if they're given in good time, ie before the final turn onto the ILS. I always give 170kts to BMI 737s (and they generally indicate their gratitude) but have to admit that I do not know which other 737 operators prefer that speed. Eg I've always used 160kts for BA and last week I asked a BA 737 which speed he would prefer to 4DME, 160 or 170, he said "whatever you like" which leads me to believe that different types of 737 have different speed requirements. I always use 160 for all foreign 737 operators and none has ever queried it. An Air France 737 given "no ATC speed control" came back to walking speed and nearly caused a go-around!!
Any comments from 737 jockeys would be appreciated.