Ideally, should 737 flaps be extended in level flight or not.
The FCTM states somewhere that the flaps are not normally used for increasing descent rate and that normal descents are made in clean configuration to pattern or instrument approach altitude. An earlier FCTM stated that flaps are not designed to be used as speed brakes.
Despite these words of wisdom, it is common to see people selecting Flap 1 then Flap 5 not only while still descending but at significantly higher speeds than recommended. This is because the 737 is slow to lose speed while descending and so people simply drop the initial flaps to get the aircraft slowed down. From observation there seems to be a reluctance to momentarily level out during the descent in order to adhere to the FCTM recommendations stated above. Similarly with speed reduction requested by ATC. Immediate speed bleed is best done in level flight. But over what time period can ATC reasonably expect the new lower airspeed to be attained?
Am I alone in thinking that it is not playing the game when flaps are deliberately extended during descent in order to slow up? There is sometimes a thin dividing line between a perceived dogmatic approach to the FCTM advice and applying the principle of excellence in airmanship. In other words avoidance of near enough is good enough.