Narrative:

Approaching abq, ATIS said winds were (approximately) 120 degrees/12 KTS. Approach control then told us the winds were 140 degrees/10-12 KTS. When we turned base for landing on runway 8, I asked tower for a wind check, and they said it was out of the south at 12 KTS. Since the wind felt stronger to me, I asked if we could use runway 17. Tower said that we couldn't use it because of noise abatement, and that the crosswind component had to be at least 15 KTS. I said, 'how about if I need runway 17 for operational necessity?' tower said, 'you will have to wait until we call the city for permission.' this is totally unacceptable, and has been brought up before. Abq is noted for its strong and changing winds, with associated turbulence and windshear. Add to that the visual illusion of being high on approach to runway 8 and the possibility that the tower may not be totally honest when reporting surface winds, and you may find yourself pushing the limits of safety. Abq is using their own local noise abatement policies to abrogate captain's authority/authorized and operational necessity.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF AN ACR MLG COMPLAINS ABOUT THE ABQ NOISE ABATEMENT PROCS PREVENTING THE USE OF THE MOST APPROPRIATE RWY CONSIDERING THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.

Narrative: APCHING ABQ, ATIS SAID WINDS WERE (APPROX) 120 DEGS/12 KTS. APCH CTL THEN TOLD US THE WINDS WERE 140 DEGS/10-12 KTS. WHEN WE TURNED BASE FOR LNDG ON RWY 8, I ASKED TWR FOR A WIND CHK, AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF THE S AT 12 KTS. SINCE THE WIND FELT STRONGER TO ME, I ASKED IF WE COULD USE RWY 17. TWR SAID THAT WE COULDN'T USE IT BECAUSE OF NOISE ABATEMENT, AND THAT THE XWIND COMPONENT HAD TO BE AT LEAST 15 KTS. I SAID, 'HOW ABOUT IF I NEED RWY 17 FOR OPERATIONAL NECESSITY?' TWR SAID, 'YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CALL THE CITY FOR PERMISSION.' THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AND HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE. ABQ IS NOTED FOR ITS STRONG AND CHANGING WINDS, WITH ASSOCIATED TURB AND WINDSHEAR. ADD TO THAT THE VISUAL ILLUSION OF BEING HIGH ON APCH TO RWY 8 AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TWR MAY NOT BE TOTALLY HONEST WHEN RPTING SURFACE WINDS, AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF PUSHING THE LIMITS OF SAFETY. ABQ IS USING THEIR OWN LCL NOISE ABATEMENT POLICIES TO ABROGATE CAPT'S AUTH AND OPERATIONAL NECESSITY.

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.