Originally Posted by aterpster
No one in their right mind, who is actually a real airline pilot, would come even remotely close to doing what you proposed.
I once flew as an FO with a CAA inspector in the left hand seat, where this exact question came up. The CAA inspector insisted that the limitation was specific about extend
ing the flap, not operating with flap extend
ed - and we proceeded to FL380 or so with a small amount of flap extend
ed.
(There's more to that story, but that's the guts of it.)
So - yes, it's an old question. Yes, it can be misinterpreted, and yes where it can be misinterpreted there will be a pilot who will do it.
The limitation is standard on every jet aircraft I have flown, and like everyone else, I am convinced that it simply means "Flaps aren't tested in this region - here be dragons".