ALT CROSSING RESTRICTION NOT MADE. FLT CREW MEMBER OBJECTS TO LATE DESCENT AND CTLR TECHNIQUE OR PROCEDURE.

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ATC CLRED ACR X TO DESCEND 15 WEST OF MARTINSBURG VOR AND CROSS THE 15 MILE FIX AT 15000. TWO ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO ENTER THE INFORMATION; FOR THE DESCENT; IN THE COMPUTER. THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE INFORMATION. A MANUAL DESCENT WAS THEN STARTED! EVEN WITH FULL SPEEDBRAKE THE ALT RESTRICTION COULD NOT BE MADE. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DESCENT BEEN GIVEN AT THE LAST MINUTE. EVEN IF WE HAD NOT TRIED TO ENTER THE INFORMATION IN THE COMPUTER; IT WOULD HAVE STILL BEING DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE RESTRICTION. AT TIMES ATC WILL GIVE AN INTERSECTION XING ALT; AND WHEN YOU ADVISE THEM THAT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE THE ALT. THEY SAY 'DO YOUR BEST.' AND THE THING I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT THERE IS A FIX 14 MILES WEST OF MARTINSBURG VOR THAT IS ON THE CHARTS AND WAS ALSO IN THE COMPUTER. WHY DIDN'T HE USE THAT? IT IS THE OLD STORY! HOW CAN WE PLAN AHEAD IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW ATC IS GOING TO CLR US? THEY GET BEHIND AND GIVE THE CLRNC AT THE LAST MINUTE; AND IT TAKES TIME FOR US TO REACT. WE NEED TIME TOO!