Min clean. Height constraits LHR arrivals.
Had a new scenario on arrival this afternoon into LHR. I was held high, and asked to come back to min clean at FL390. 747-400. I was then given descent and the restriction, FL150 by Tiger. Now here is the box that LATCC put me in. As I was high on the profile, I ... needed to lose height quickly, but had the constraint, "Min Clean". Speedbrake, I hear you say. But that is not option. Not an option because as soon as they are deployed the low speed buffet margin increases above your indicated airspeed. So no way of meeting the constraint, given the constraints presented to me.
I bring this to the attention of your good selves, as the new variable speeds into LHR become more common, and if we are held up, then getting down at "min clean" is not very easy unless we can accelerate, then get the speedbrakes out.
Min clean, and expeditious descent are incompatible.