Delta has multiple meteorological sources and always uses the most favorable one. They are oriented to go, not stop. As are all airlines and charter ops. This isn't news.

 

So you're saying that after your recommendation, the Captain stopped the operation? I have done the same and yes FOs need to speak up, but I don't think the poster was saying that FOs don't have a say in stopping the operation.

 

I had a flight last week where the dispatcher messaged to have us wait to push until the next metar came out because the current winds were above limits. It struck me as excessive given the forecast and 2 alternates, but they certainly are looking at it.

 

Would that be like if a X-wind limit were exceeded?

 

And did they tell you that because they wanted to be just legal to go or because the next METAR might demonstrate that it was within limits and safe to operate in there? Legit question.

 

Of course they are and of course it isn't. The point being that *no one* in the OCC will stop an usafe operation is probably not accurate. The dispatchers have no incentive to push anyone to operate and can themselves be on the hook for doing so.

 

In theory you’re correct. In practice, I’ve had dispatchers plan me with routing that was right through areas of moderate turbulence for hours because it saves some fuel, or deferrals that needed to be addressed, or planned fuel loads that left no wiggle room for contingencies. So, while they may have skin in the game, the reality is that it almost always falls to the Captain to say no when appropriate. Oddly, every time I’ve changed the orginal plan(added gas, refused a jet for an MEL item that wasn’t suitable, changed the route/altitude for rides or weather) the dispatcher ALWAYS said they agreed. That tells me that their instincts are good, but perhaps the pressure from their higher ups often times overrides their instincts, and they are waiting for us to make the call. I’ve had dispatchers answer the phone by saying “I was expecting your call!”

 

Not in every case.

 

I requested extra fuel for deice the other day and was told they can't because we were payload optimised. I didn't push the issue because I figured it would be tight but ok. We waited to start and when we got to the deice line we shut down. I made it work and then kept asking for short cuts. It all worked out but had I said no, his tone told me there was going to be a resistance. In the end we landed over min fuel so no issues but the gray area was black and white for him. I did make 2 non-revs happy though.

 

”Payload optimized” LOL. In a case like that, simply telling him that he will have to remove a bit of payload because safety trumps revenue, is the proper course of action, IMO.