I hesitate to add a further two cents to this discussion but because BOAC and others have referred to my remark that pilots in the Canadian Arctic tend to 'push the envelope', all I meant was - as an example - that if one of these pilots was approaching to land at Resolute in a 737 - the manual for which specified a maximum allowable tailwind of 10 knots for landing - and was advised to expect a tailwind of 13 knots, he would have no hesitation in landing.
Some pilots push harder. I've landed on a remote gravel strip in a Twin Otter on big wheels in a crosswind gusting up to 37 knots but that was with a highly experienced, highly skilled bush pilot at the controls, who knew his limits and knew exactly what he was doing. That was an exceptional case of 'pushing the envelope' and by no means representative of Canadian Arctic aviating.
I will now hold my peace and wait for the NTSB report.