Expedite descent
1967kev,
From an operational point of view if I am asked to expedite descent I select 'FLCH' mode (FlightLevelChange) which closes the thrust levers and gives best ROD at selected speed... for increasing ROD in this mode I would increase selected speed... even further 'expediting' would involve deploying airbrakes/spoilers, basically dumping lift from the wing and therefore dropping out of the sky (in a controlled manner) usually however a speed increase would suffice unless above the descent path or to avoid! (The spoilers make it slightly uncomfortable for my pax, so I try to avoid their use.)
In short I would assume the answer they are looking for is to increase indicated speed (IAS) (or to maintain high speed) .
Hope this helps!
With regards to your answer to CJayne regarding Descent questions in the NATS process and using SDT formulae rather than rules of thumb, as an example for her to practice, what info would be given:-
Flight level, speed and distance?
Can you remember an example?
Cheers