Cough;
One question, well probably more than one <G>... If you KNOW that you are normally going to get a shortcut, and you KNOW that the FMS is going to NOT show you the correct start down point, why don't you start down a bit early??? We didn't seem to have these problems in the days of mainly steam guage aircraft. The crews KNEW what to expect for the most part and started down with the normal wag with a couple of miles thrown in. Now we see crews betting everything on what the FMS says. Depending on winds and track miles, the FMS does NOT know what is really needed. That is where EXPERIENCE comes to play and should be used.
Some of the check airman that I deal with as well as safety folks from different flying organisations all come to the same conclusions when we have our meets... Crews are NOT flying the aircraft as in the past. They are more and more going along for the ride and seeing what the automation is doing for them. I cringe when the days come that the last of the airman who flew both props and steam guage aircraft go away and all with what they know go with them. The days of true airmanship are going to be numbered <sigh>... Not unless some of the new folks start taking heed on how to FLY...
regards
Scott