Interesting....
You think that saying expedite is pointless. <shrug> We know (well most of us) that certain aircraft are challenged in the climb. however, flaps aside, (we aren't going to know when you are playing with them.) telling someone to expedite is usefull IF the pilot community takes it for what it is meant. In other words, if you haven't taken away some lift, then keep it and keep climbing, or don't decide to level it out a bit so that you can get more speed, just keep it where it is at and keep climbing at the rate you are doing or better. If you DON'T do that when asked to expedite, then you AREN't doing as requested. We don't say these things just to hear ourselves talk. We are trying to move the maximum amount of aircraft through the system as we can safely. IF do to the new types of aircraft out there and the new way that crews are being trained don't allow us to use the old tricks that have worked in the past, then we are going to have to change the amount of aircraft we can accomadate. This will in turn keep you on the ground or in the hold longer. We have to ALL work together to make this work. That means for us to work our collective butts off and use all the tools of the trade as well as tricks in the bag. It also means that you as pilots need to be able to practice some airmanship from time to time and not just mess with the knobs and FMS...
Off the soap box and putting on my kevlar and nomex <G>.
regards
Scott