B737-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 222; Flight Crew Type 16000
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I have reported this approach in the name of safety before. At that time; the previous flight resulted in a cabin injury due to severe turbulence crossing the red rocks ridge prior to IPUMY on the SUNST Arrival in Las Vegas. On this day after FUZZY; we were instructed to descend to 11;000 feet as usual. I told the Controller we were unable to do so due to high winds and turbulence and would maintain 14;000 feet until across the ridge. At 14;000 feet the winds were 70 knots; and I specifically said to the Controller that he should not cross traffic across the ridge due to high wind speed. I explained this and my reluctance to do so three times. We were then issued holding instructions and delay vectors over the airport (okay; fine.) What gets me is the total lack of understanding of potential safety issues while descending over this ridge. High winds mean high turbulence and I am not going to be a 'weather ship.' So; again I am issuing a report stating that is not smart to bring aircraft into probable severe turbulence at 11;000 feet or below during periods of high wind velocity across the ridge. The 14;000 feet altitude was light to moderate; but generally OK. Also; from the South on the KEPEC Arrival; traffic should be brought from CLARR direct to IPUMY and no extra altitude is needed.
B737-300 flight crew inbound on the SUNST arrival into LAS was instructed to descend to 11;000 feet after FUZZY. The reporter declined the clearance due to anticipated turbulence because of wind conditions.