Why does ATC sometimes tell me to land on a runway that has a tailwind?

In real-world aviation, runway assignments aren't always based solely on wind conditions. Airports, especially busy ones like LAX, manage operations with numerous factors in mind, including overall traffic flow, noise abatement procedures, and available runway configurations. A 5-knot tailwind might not be enough to warrant changing the operational direction of an entire airport.

In some cases, pilots might be assigned a runway with a tailwind because the airport cannot immediately shift operations to accommodate a headwind landing. This can happen at major airports where the logistics of changing runways would cause significant delays or disruptions.

If a tailwind exceeds safe limits or if the runway assignment doesn’t meet the pilot’s requirements, the pilot may need to request a different runway or, in more extreme cases, divert to another airport. This reflects the complex decision-making process in aviation, where safety is the priority, but operational considerations also play a significant role in runway assignments.

In summary, while ATC aims to provide the best possible landing conditions, operational realities sometimes mean that pilots must land with a tailwind. When this happens, pilots should assess the situation and communicate with ATC if they need an alternative solution.