Mr Buzzy.
Get your friend to read his manuals again because fom what I am reading now at a mates place (Check and Training Captain) - your mate is wrong.
He has confirmed also that Macrohard is absolutely correct here.
This is basic bread and butter type stuff that pilots such as your friend should know as a matter of course.
Your mate Mr Buzzy needs to get off his backside and amend his manuals.
We dont want your mate failing a check now do we Mr Buzzy?
Also Mr Buzzy the only reason both airlines are doing reduced speed descents are for fuel savings only (controlled airspace).
The manufacturers in conjunction with airlines and ICAO around the world have agreed upon the 300 knot desent as standard above 10,000ft.
Both QF and
VB have petitioned ATC in Oz for this reduced speed descent in order to save a few kg of fuel per sector - nothing more, nothing less.
These savings can be quite substantial depending upon the number of sectors flown.
If airlines are doing speeds less than Air Services dictate for class E and G airspace then its for nothing less than fuel saving.
Trust me Mr Buzzy, jets dont like going slow on descent.
Perhaps you just dont get the real sensations using Flight Sim 2000 as opposed to the real world, eh Mr Buzzy?