I would second that. We are trying to keep the planes CAT III capable and you guys are trying to expeditiously get us safely to MEM. There has to be a balance--if you can't accomodate an equipment check just tell us "unable" and we will accomplish the check the next time.

Thanks for the question MEM_ATC--it is nice to see non-heated conversation between pilots and controllers!

As an aside, I was coming in from MSP a few weeks back and you guys were busy sequencing all of us in. It was one of those evenings that everyone showed up at the same time and the final (landing south) was over 35 miles long. This was the conversation between a DC-10 and the controller as she was vectoring the -10 on base:

DC-10: 'Ummm...approach, do you have a second for a question?'
---silence for a few seconds 'cuz she didn't---
MEM: 'sure, go ahead'
DC-10: 'What is the reason for the 35 mile final tonight?'
MEM: 'Ummmm.....all of the traffic???'
---silence----

The only thing she could have added was 'Here's your sign!'