A very intresting post indeed....
I have always wondered where this communication barrier between ATC and pilots came from while it is all so easy and simple.
I do have to say that all this non existing knowledge causes a lot of frustration and misunderstanding from both sides.
I have the impression that ATC is the little " forgotten" brother of our otherwise so professional world of aviation. ATC discipline is often far far far away, read backs are forgotten and often replaced by a much easier " roger".
We should never forget how important a correct phraseology is, vertainly in an environment like the Gulf where people from all of the world meet eachother in the air.
TCAS aswell has contributed to a false sense of security from the pilots. Who needs ATC when you have TCAS?????
WRONG: IFALPA actually issued a safety bulletin (O6SA B001) regarding TCAS where they say that in no case whatsoever TCAS should be used to arrange your own separation as a pilot. This is not how TCAS was designed. It is there to increase your awareness as a pilot and to get you out of the S**T when you are allready in it up to your nose! Nothing more nothing less.
So as a pilot ATC instructions should be followed at all times. So what if you have your doubts about the reasons? Just do it, you are only staying at the safe side of things.
We all know that as a pilot it is VERY frustrating if an ATC controller screws up your whole descent profile and your energey management plan gets thrown out while levelling off at 1500ft at 210 kts 40 NM on final. It is annoying and it feels wrong!
But its not up to us to decide there to disregard ATC instructions. Follow them , stay safe and keep in the back of your head that this was not how you planned things but hey, ATC intsructions! And most of the times I am sure they will have their reasons why to do things this way.
example: that bloody DUMPI at FL220 when coming from UAE descending into OTBD!!!! It frustrates everybody incredibly. But there must be a reason for it. Maybe if ATC would be given the opportunity to publish a reason as well as a temporarily notam I am sure a lot of people would feel much better!