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

Created by SayIntentions Support, Modified on Sun, 14 Dec, 2025 at 11:29 AM by Martijn Coenen

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.


Our AI ATC uses the considerations above, takes into account weather, AI Traffic (we really do not want to revector traffic if it is not absolutely necessary).

Generally speaking, remember that you are not alone in the world of ATC. ATC needs to take into account other traffic and will not suspend traffic or divert traffic because you want a different runway. You can always ask, but the answer may be no.


If you want to be alone and want to get what you want, you can select Simbrief filed runways and weather on the MISC tab of the App settings. It will do what you have filed. 

But remember, other traffic will still be using real weather and the ATIS runways.... So best to turn off at least Skynet Multiplayer traffic


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