But this happens in the best of places (big European airport). Last week I was asked to speed up whilst being kept level prior to a handover. But just before the handover I told the current controller that I wouldn't be able to make the next altitude constraint some 16,000' lower. It took an age to check in and when I did, I was asked to slow up from 290 to 210, descend and then make the constraint. Short of lowering the gear, no chance! When I told the controller I couldn't make the restraint all I got was a bollocking! As this is the first time I'll let it lie, but if this gets to be commonplace I'll start getting upset.
PM