tell me this, do you not fly below gd every other day, selecting flap UP at S speed when gd is 20..30 knots above... the fact of the matter is, those in EK do NOT understand GD, it has nothing to do with being BRAVE just to do with understanding. Indicated gd on the pfd in norm conditions is NOT best single eng speed... vls while being the lowest selectable velocity/speed still is 1.23vs1g X94% so yet again more protections built in. I am not saying that I myself condone flying at VLS or below, but reducing to below gd on an app to maintain a cda is acceptable, as long as it is controlled and the pf and pnf are in agreement and understand what and where they are.
Those who have flown other olde Airbuses have seen gd and VLS are nearly co located, whereas on the A33F the lift to drag profile is such that a big split is always evident.
p.s. How can you do an over weight landing if VFE next is below GD as is the case...well the QRH tells you select vfe next -5......
