That's all well and good Wingswinger and I take your points on board. However, 160 to 4 is a standard ATC assigned speed on final approach. Everybody gets it unless requested otherwise...BA 737 fleet have cottoned onto this and routinely ask for 170 to 5 when they are on the downwind leg. This is not a problem for us as long as we are told well in advance.
The reason it is a standard speed is to ensure we achieve the correct spacing requested by the tower in order for them to get a deaparture away. More importantly, it is sometimes an issue of maintaining the correct space between a pair of a/c for vortex reasons.
If the assigned speed is a problem then we need to know sooner rather than later.It is not acceptable to just read back "160 to 4DME" and then batter on regardless flying your own speed. There are moves afoot to make 170 to 5 the standard final approach speed for everybody, which will hopefully improve things.
