Narrative:

The ATIS reported the RVR to runway 4R at 1200 ft variable to 1600 ft with winds 160 degrees at 11 KTS. This was the only visible runway at jfk. Runway 13L, a CAT ii runway, was notamed with an inoperative GS. This NOTAM goes back yrs. It's critical that runway 13L ILS be used in these conditions to prevent an autoland that must deal with an 8 KT tailwind and a 10 KT crosswind on a runway that has 7300 ft of runway at GS touchdown point. During our touchdown, tower reported winds 170 degrees at 13 KTS which is 11 KTS crosswind which is 1 KT more than legal for an autoland approach. Approachs continued for runway 4R until WX improved, then the runway was changed. I wish I could say that this was not a normal event but at jfk, if the ceiling is low, runway 4R will be used regardless of wind direction. I realize that traffic conflict with lga would exist if runway 13L were used at jfk and it's also not politically the right thing to do (noise), but not using runway 13L is unsafe. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states that he spoke to ATC about the problem but they were seemingly not concerned that many of the aircraft were landing beyond the crosswind limitations and the tailwind limitations for the aircraft and on a wet runway. Some of the aircraft went to alternate airports to avoid doing so. He also spoke with chief pilot who indicated he knows of the inconsistency of runway use and would speak to ATC. Reporter says that whenever there is a 'nor' easter' ATC chooses to use runway 4 when runway 13L would be appropriate. It will not be a problem for a period of time now, but during the winter months it is a safety concern. He understands the problem with lga but they too have a runway 13, so the 2 airports could both switch to those runways. Runway 13R does not have a CAT ii approach, just a VOR circling approach so this would not work. The aircraft was a B767.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF B767 ON APCH TO JFK MUST USE RWY 4 WHEN XWIND TAILWIND LIMITATIONS MAY BE EXCEEDED AND RWY IS WET AS WELL.

Narrative: THE ATIS RPTED THE RVR TO RWY 4R AT 1200 FT VARIABLE TO 1600 FT WITH WINDS 160 DEGS AT 11 KTS. THIS WAS THE ONLY VISIBLE RWY AT JFK. RWY 13L, A CAT II RWY, WAS NOTAMED WITH AN INOP GS. THIS NOTAM GOES BACK YRS. IT'S CRITICAL THAT RWY 13L ILS BE USED IN THESE CONDITIONS TO PREVENT AN AUTOLAND THAT MUST DEAL WITH AN 8 KT TAILWIND AND A 10 KT XWIND ON A RWY THAT HAS 7300 FT OF RWY AT GS TOUCHDOWN POINT. DURING OUR TOUCHDOWN, TWR RPTED WINDS 170 DEGS AT 13 KTS WHICH IS 11 KTS XWIND WHICH IS 1 KT MORE THAN LEGAL FOR AN AUTOLAND APCH. APCHS CONTINUED FOR RWY 4R UNTIL WX IMPROVED, THEN THE RWY WAS CHANGED. I WISH I COULD SAY THAT THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL EVENT BUT AT JFK, IF THE CEILING IS LOW, RWY 4R WILL BE USED REGARDLESS OF WIND DIRECTION. I REALIZE THAT TFC CONFLICT WITH LGA WOULD EXIST IF RWY 13L WERE USED AT JFK AND IT'S ALSO NOT POLITICALLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO (NOISE), BUT NOT USING RWY 13L IS UNSAFE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE SPOKE TO ATC ABOUT THE PROB BUT THEY WERE SEEMINGLY NOT CONCERNED THAT MANY OF THE ACFT WERE LNDG BEYOND THE XWIND LIMITATIONS AND THE TAILWIND LIMITATIONS FOR THE ACFT AND ON A WET RWY. SOME OF THE ACFT WENT TO ALTERNATE ARPTS TO AVOID DOING SO. HE ALSO SPOKE WITH CHIEF PLT WHO INDICATED HE KNOWS OF THE INCONSISTENCY OF RWY USE AND WOULD SPEAK TO ATC. RPTR SAYS THAT WHENEVER THERE IS A 'NOR' EASTER' ATC CHOOSES TO USE RWY 4 WHEN RWY 13L WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. IT WILL NOT BE A PROB FOR A PERIOD OF TIME NOW, BUT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. HE UNDERSTANDS THE PROB WITH LGA BUT THEY TOO HAVE A RWY 13, SO THE 2 ARPTS COULD BOTH SWITCH TO THOSE RWYS. RWY 13R DOES NOT HAVE A CAT II APCH, JUST A VOR CIRCLING APCH SO THIS WOULD NOT WORK. THE ACFT WAS A B767.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.