ALEXBAN that took place in Roma, for rwy 34R.
Instead of flying north to CMP , since I anticipated the controller to be smart, I descended much earlier, and was cleared to cut all corners of a very long S pattern, saving at least 30 miles.
And that's what happened: the controller suddenly cleared me direct to the loc, for an almost straight in ILS.
I agree 30 seconds is not much, but when you are late and blessed with such a short cut by ATC, you enjoy it!
Being stabilized at Vref above 1000 ft is paramount to me, and I was.
Birdstrike? So you never fly without speed restriction below 10000ft?
If it happens, it happens.
Sorry for the bird!
Btw: when I say north of Africa, I mean the southern peninsula of Eurabia: Italy!