Shoo you raise a good point. I never understood why it is so popular with ATC units in the Middle East to take a/c's off of the arrive routes and vector them exactly along the arrival route. The 2 most popular places that I have seen this is in Riyadh and Dubai. What's wrong with just following the DESDI3T? Having to vector a/c must be adding to the ATC's work load I would imagine. Why not just let them follow the STAR and hand off when required? Of course long cuts at BUBOK due to traffic are understandable, if required. Maybe that is essentially what is being accomplished with the "HDG 120 at TARDI"???
As it appears we have a few ATC guys on the forum, I'd like to ask another question regarding the coordination of sectors. Many times we are asked to slow down to 250 at 10,000. Not a problem. But when we get handed off we are asked to speed up. or vise versa. Or the other example is that we are happily flying down the airway at our cruising speed, get handed off to DXB and told to enter the hold. Again, if its busy and we have to hold, no problem. But maybe better communications between ATC agencies and we could have slowed down while on route to assist with the coordination of the inbound traffic. I understand busy periods and traffic congestion etc etc, I just think its odd to be cruising at 460kt right into a hold. Personnaly I'd prefer to slow down on route then to be doing circles over the Gulf. I know for a fact that the passengers would prefer straight and level flight even if it is a bit slower.
I guess my point is that with better communications better centers then perhaps it would avoid the vectoring and holding and essentially help lower ATC work load and probably help increase capacity? Or am I missing something?
Just asking.
Thanks.