When I was doing arrivals () one minute early is taking the p!ss, 30 seconds is perfect (approach can tweak your speed if they need to lose that thirty seconds) but late, even thirty seconds is a complete pain in the arse. It's very easy to lose time (vector, speed control) it's extremely hard, as you'd know, to make up time at that phase of flight.
Jack Ranga,
Thanks for that, I always suspected slightly early is better than slightly late, as as you say its easier to lose than gain time in final stages of approach. I will now try and spread the word to some +-1min crew (but then when they stuff it and it blows out to 2 mins late just say OK well tell ATC we are gonna be late at around 5 mins to the fix... lol) and aim for the -30s to on time goal. Thanks
