Hello BELK
Thx for the quick reply. No I don't think that Spanish ATCO's are taught "upto 20 knots = calm", but on very regular occaisions I have been told calm and IT IS NOT!!!!!!! It's a noticable tailwind and you can feel it after landing when you do the walk round. So why do we get told it's calm? That is not a mistake on the part of the ATCO - he has a wind reading in front of him...... so is it done "on purpose"?
The only conclusion is preferential runway for arrivals. Herein lies the danger. BAe146 that crashed at LSZH/ZRH during a Non Precision Approach to R/W 28. The more sensible runway (with ILS) commenced its approach over German airspace but it was late so "unavailable"........
B747 off the end at EHAM/AMS during a huge crosswind approach because 27 arrives over a residential area and it was late so "unavail........
BELK
please don't duck out of the discussion - no one is "having a go". We, as Professional pilots, operate in Spanish airspace and we have legitamate concerns over the quality of the service we recieve at some airports and wonder why it never improves. Perhaps you could raise this with your instructors? For me the biggest concerns are (lack of) speed control at BCN/MAD and tailwind landings when it is "calm".
A4
