This is the 'funnest' thread in ages!
Ol'
411A is getting a bit of flak but I have to say I agree with much of what he's posted. Unless you're a test pilot about to take a new type for its first flight, there's very little need for long winded, statements-of-the-bleedin'-obvious recitation. Lots of information, most of it redundant.
"...10DME at 3,000' ... blah ... QDM and frequency ... blah ... 3 degree slope ... blah ... height of the outer marker is ... blah ..." *snore*. Yes, I can read an approach plate too.
Tell/ask me what's
different about today that might cause a problem: density altitude? Tailwinds? Other traffic? Going visual? Windshear? MEL? Feeling tired? Etc. If there's a bit of novelty concerning the destination, then a bit of the "how" as well as the "what" can be useful and sometimes shows you're trying to do something inadvisable.
Why do we have briefings? Is it:
a) so we can tick all the items off in the checklist? Or,
b) that the
entire crew is happy with plan 'A' and some of the less outlandish eventualities surrounding it?