MD80 Captain reports being cleared to taxi to Runway 8 at ABQ; which has a tailwind; with a weight restricted aircraft and mountains to the east. Runway 26 was requested.
Synopsis
MD80 Captain reports being cleared to taxi to Runway 8 at ABQ; which has a tailwind; with a weight restricted aircraft and mountains to the east. Runway 26 was requested.
Narrative
On a hot afternoon with weight limited aircraft; virga and buildups to the west of the airport; on the day after multiple aircraft performed escape maneuvers due to windshear; we were assigned Runway 8 for takeoff. Let's see; takeoff into the mountains with a tailwind; away from potential outflow from convective activity. What were they thinking? While we didn't accept Runway 8 for takeoff; this is the sort of thing that is going to get someone killed. The day after a major windshear event; I would have thought that they'd be more careful in their choice of runways. I realize that this report may not be the correct venue for this complaint but the company and the union are going to have to document these issues carefully in order to educate ATC on their increasing number of thoughtless and potentially dangerous decisions. While I realize that ground control may have thought they were doing us a favor by assigning us the east runway (our destination being east) all parties must avoid using the last link in the safety chain; the flight crew. On another day; someone a little more fatigued or a little more distracted may have chosen the tailwind runway and allow the aircrew to request the more expeditious runway; not the other way around.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.