Originally Posted by
FlyerJosh
All blame on the pilots aside, I'm surprised that there hasn't been ANY mention of the various pressures on the local controllers to operate both ORD and MDW with tailwinds even in sub-optimal weather conditions in order to better accomodate the heavy schedules of the airlines.
Although I agree that at the end of the day the pilots are to be held responsible, how many times have you flown into Chicago and thought "Gee- I wonder why they haven't turned the runways around..."
If you are operationally unable to comply with the configuration tell the controller. Most airplanes can accept a 10KT T/W for T/O and Landing. However if your wt. and performance prevent you from accepting such a clearance then YOU must tell someone. The controller doesn't fly the airplane the crew does.
With the exception of DEN this past winter how many times do airports close for weather? If you ask the airport they are always open, conditions may prevent a safe operation of the airplane but the airport remains technically open. Are you going to fly through a thunderstorm and then says "Gee- I wonder why they gave me a heading into a Tstorm?" Fly the plane until the chocks are in and don't let someone else fly it for you.
SWA has a culture of this type of "mission accomplished" attitude. Must be a Texas-s thing.