mcoatc wrote:NW flow is pretty rare. It's something we only do once or twice a year and generally try to avoid as much as possible because it kills the arrival rate and correspondingly disrupts the AAL operations so far as connecting banks go.
31L prop departures are standard, and hardly unheard of for jets. Jets might depart 31L due to an extended maintenance closure of one of the 36s. Rare, but we do it. 31L arrivals do not require a circle approach contrary to someone's claim otherwise. Today it was simply visuals.
13L arrivals aren't something I've seen at DFW, and the winds don't normally blow that way around here. I believe I've heard that tropical storm story from someone. 13L departures are effectively limited to props and aren't something you see much of. There just aren't that many props these days and since you're shooting a gap with 17L arrivals, are often more trouble than they're worth.
Also, I'm not sure about the bad wind comment. It does get gusty around here, but it's not normally anything crazy.
NW flows are indeed rare. I can count on two hands the amount of times I've seen it here (I've lived in the metroplex 14 years now). There were probably more times but the amount I was aware of I can count on two hands.
fun as an enthusiast to watch, horrible as a passenger (regarding delays) or for someone working for airlines I'm sure.
I've seen plenty of departures of off 31L even without the NW flows esp. the cargo airlines. Regarding landings I have landed on 13R twice and 31R once (under normal circumstances). As an enthusiast it would be fun to depart off of either 31 or land on 31L just to do something different (like landing on 11 ot 29 at EWR). Jealous of those who got to experience it.
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