Reputation of Aussie pilots overseas

[Snakecharma]

OICUR....operations ex LAX in the 777 are typically done at MTOW, and a tailwind drops the performance limit by about 2 tonnes per kt of tailwind.

3-4 kts of tailwind very easily becomes 7-8 kts of tailwind in LA and seeing as they typically only update the atis once an hour it is hardly a stretch to imagine that crews are fairly conservative when it comes to takeoff performance.

depending on the temp 2-3 kts tailwind is the limit with no derate, no assumed temp and bleeds off.

Throw in runway closures that run for months and wanting to take off into wind is hardly a world ending event.

Every crew I know of will try their damndest to not need a runway 7L/R departure because of the hassle that comes with it, but the risk is that you get to the end of the runway and they advise that the tailwind is now 3-4 kts not 2-3 kts and you are stuffed.

Being professional shouldn't be the reason for ridicule. Similarly knowing what the tailwind limit is, ensuring you aren't exceeding it and then taking off on the prevailing runway direction is also a mark of professionalism, and should not be used to suggest that they "twiddled" the numbers and took off disregarding the tailwind limit being exceeded - which is what you were suggesting.

Edit...great circle distance LAX-HKG 7260 nm, great circle distance LAX-SYD 7488nm.

The thing that adds a lot of weight ex LA is freight. Not sure what AA carry freight wise.