Air carrier instructed to hold high speed to marker in tailwind conditions.

Attributes
ACN	195198
Time
Date	199111
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : ewr airport : n90
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 175 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	195918
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

At most large airports, particularly, ewr, bos and lga and ord, we receive the instruction 'hold at least 180 KTS to the marker' about 75 percent of all approachs. This is not a problem when it's VFR or there's no significant tailwind. On this day, however, the wind was 230/30 at 3000 ft and 230/25 at 2000 ft and the RVR was 4000. This puts us at 205 KTS at the marker on an approach where we broke out at less than 100 ft above mins. Note that the instruction was not 'if feasible' or 'advise if unable.' approach control is creating a dangerous situation in order to expedite traffic flow.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR INSTRUCTED TO HOLD HIGH SPD TO MARKER IN TAILWIND CONDITIONS.

Narrative: AT MOST LARGE ARPTS, PARTICULARLY, EWR, BOS AND LGA AND ORD, WE RECEIVE THE INSTRUCTION 'HOLD AT LEAST 180 KTS TO THE MARKER' ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF ALL APCHS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WHEN IT'S VFR OR THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT TAILWIND. ON THIS DAY, HOWEVER, THE WIND WAS 230/30 AT 3000 FT AND 230/25 AT 2000 FT AND THE RVR WAS 4000. THIS PUTS US AT 205 KTS AT THE MARKER ON AN APCH WHERE WE BROKE OUT AT LESS THAN 100 FT ABOVE MINS. NOTE THAT THE INSTRUCTION WAS NOT 'IF FEASIBLE' OR 'ADVISE IF UNABLE.' APCH CTL IS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE TFC FLOW.

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.