Commercial Fixed Wing
Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
All day long; DFW operated with a tailwind. The wind was from 330 degrees to 050 degrees all day long. Generally from 5 to 8 knots. DFW continued to operate with a south flow. Much of the time; the ATIS reported the wind as calm even though the flags were standing out smartly. That the airport would operate all day in this condition is amazing to me. I was always taught that airplanes took off and landed into the wind. In the interest of safety; we should at least try to operate into the wind. In the interest of economics also. Faster landing speeds; hotter brakes; maximum power required for takeoff; etc. Who would be responsible if an aircraft rolled off the end?
Air carrier pilot questioned why DFW operated all day with a 5-8 knot tailwind against the stated interests of safety and economics.