A few questions for the ATC crowd - is there a website where UK descent restrictions are published? - for example FL250, 30 nm before MID when inbound to BHX/EMA. In a recent flight safety report, an incident was started when the captain (who was not the operating pilot that sector) was off the ATC frequency speaking to company/handling agent, when a late clearance was given to one of these intermediate levels - the response from NATS to the report (I thought) was less than helpful. They stated that these restrictions were well known and should be taken account of - they are well known if you fly a particular route regularly, but they are NOT published on Jeppersen charts and therefore on an unfamiliar route can come as a complete surprise.
Out of curiousity, what is the reason for these restrictions? Also, they are relaxed during the late evening - is that based on a definite timing, or is it purely tactical?
