Some good info here from both sides of the fence, but it does beg the question, why the hell are we using this system when:
a) there is no way for the controllers to easily know/incorporate each aircraft PTL into the job
b) The system is designed outside most aircraft capability in that it requires 'to the second' accuracy, and creates a '30 second early/late' type error
c) it all boils down to workload management on the day/time anyway!
Nautilus Blue, if 40 kt faster will keep spacing between me and the one behind, why would the same controller slow me down 10nm earlier when the preceding traffic is faster?
I realise it is entirely circumstancial, but just trying to get my head around the system.
520