“this is quite beyond my risk management attitude to life, death, and the universe ‘
Needless to say, John, attitudes to risk management vary considerably from pilot to pilot. The heavy jet freight animals, for example, operate frequently at either maximum takeoff and landing weights, or are completely empty ferrying the aircraft to the next pickup. They are, by necessity, usually in corners of the envelope that carry the highest degree of risk, yet as far as I’m aware, have accident/incident rates no greater than their passenger-carrying brethren and sistren(?) operating the same aircraft type. Despite your concerns, there is much to be said for a strict, standardized ‘by the numbers’ operation, even if those numbers could occasionally be improved under certain conditions. We wouldn’t want a little finger trouble or momentary inattention to cause inadvertent correction of performance figures in the wrong direction. That could adversely affect one’s future earning potential.
Stardust, I would act on mutt’s advice before accepting the trip; insist on getting the data for that runway from your company.