Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Type 15000
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors
Upon visual approach into Runway 35R at DEN; heavy south tailwinds kept crew higher than normal and crew performed a go-around. ATC gave crew vectors back to try again as ATC said surface winds were light out of the north. crew attempted visual approach again and on short final; ATC announced winds were 160/14; which once again prompted a go-around. Crew requested a south runway and was told that ATC was thinking about changing the runway flow but haven't made a decision at that point. A few minutes later we were told it would be about a half hour to get a south runway. Other aircraft on north approach were going around also due to winds. ATC finally offered us Runway 26 saying it was the best they could do. Crew landed Runway 26 with 20-knot south crosswind and was cleared to taxi to BN via Taxiway M. Crew held short of BN on M without ATC instruction due to aircraft sitting at Spot XX at BN. After several minutes; ramp cleared the one aircraft out of our way but several more were approaching BN. Ramp finally cleared us to gate without further incident. ATC needs to have contingency plan for wind changes in DEN. This is a regular problem. Multiple go-arounds by several aircraft decreases the level of safety to airmen. Ground Control also needs to coordinate better with Ramp Control. Terrible communication leads to safety threats. Multiple go-arounds due to tailwinds and inefficient taxi.
Air carrier Captain reported a regular problem of DEN ATC slow to change active runway due to wind direction changes. Multiple go-arounds due to excessive tailwinds by arriving aircraft.