A320
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 11000
Other / Unknown
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
ATL approach kept aircraft at 4000 feet and 180 knots. As has been the case for the last several years approach control will not give reasonable speed assignments or altitudes on approach. Complaints to the company and the union fall on deaf ears. It is impossible to fly with these restrictions and be stable within 1000 feet of landing. Moreover ATL controllers consistently argue with crews who request vectors around hazardous weather. Continuing this practice will result in an aircraft accident. As a pilot who requests vectors around weather or reasonable speed assignments veiled threats of a violation are waved in front of my face. Interestingly enough Chicago and New York controllers are some of the best in the world and rarely push air crews on approach. Hopefully this report will draw attention to this problem and help prevent an accident.
A320 Captain reported that A80 controllers routinely keep aircraft high and fast during approach and disallow deviations for weather.