Originally Posted by
Timbo
Maybe those other operators need to be 'looked at', if indeed they were landing on a runway with reported winds beyond their aircraft's published limitations. I think we are only hearing the very tail end of this conversation, as it appears the crew had already told the controller they would not be able to accept that runway...and they would declare an emergency if they were forced into it.
Sounds like the controller wanted to "Press to Test". So, who won that little battle of wills?
I'll support the pilot's actions over atc every time, especially when JFK is involved! I'm amazed I'm alone in this.
This brings up an interesting point though, how many of you would go ahead and land, in winds reported 'out of limits' just because all the guys in front of you were doing it too?
Remember what your mom said about that??
There's your TOTD's.
I would've done exactly as I stated in my previous post. Continued to the FAF, monitored the winds, and if above limits, gone around. Then I would've gotten vectored, held, etc while explaining in detail to the controller about the significance of needing the other runway. I'd then divert if I wasn't able to get it. This isn't hypothetical either, myself and every other airline pilot has gone through these exact types of situations before and nearly no one ends up declaring an emergency as a result.
Everyone is happy, safe, and no paperwork involved. AA 2's situation, if there was nothing else going on than the wind/runway issue, resulted in a significant decrease in safety for all airplanes involved, including AA 2. Other airplanes were forced to abandon approaches, change taxi routes involving runway crossings, etc because of his actions. How does he know that he isn't being given 31R because a runway inspection is in progress or theres a guy out there changing a centerline light? He sure wasn't listening to the controller.