<<SAA company limit is max. 10kts tailwind. The guys would never have taken off with more than this. We have to many monitoring devices on board, especially on a A319 to try this trick.
Remember it might have been blowing 20kts, but off to one side, so the wind component down the runway would have been way less.>>
Hey Gyro Nut... I concur, I know all about the max tailwind for the SAA guys which is why I was amazed. Taking off from Charlie no less. But I assure you it was definitly a tailwind straight down the RWY, Metars for the morning all quote North Easterly upward of 15kt. Avcom have all the METARS.
Anyway, I'm gonna check the archives through liveatc.net and see if I can get the wind the controller reported. Maybe if you're someone in the know you can find out more...? Departed about 1310 local time...
If it turns out that I'm mistaken (happens often enopugh) I shall hang my head in shame for contributing to the rumour mill
