Narrative:

Seattle and boeing field (4.5 north of sea) were in a south landing confign and a flow change was initiated to change to a north flow -- the wind was 360 degrees; 10-12 KTS. The seattle tower stated that they could not make a flow change due to staffing; there were only 3 people in the tower and they didn't have the staffing to initiate a flow change. Thus we stayed in a 'tailwind' situation during the morning rush of aircraft landing at seattle which was compromising safety. There is no way we should have stayed in a south confign. Aircraft safety was not compromised this time but due to lack of staffing -- safety margin of error is continually being tested.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: S46 CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE LACK OF STAFFING AT SEA TWR THAT ALLEGEDLY PREVENTED A NEEDED RWY CHANGE.

Narrative: SEATTLE AND BOEING FIELD (4.5 N OF SEA) WERE IN A S LNDG CONFIGN AND A FLOW CHANGE WAS INITIATED TO CHANGE TO A N FLOW -- THE WIND WAS 360 DEGS; 10-12 KTS. THE SEATTLE TWR STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE A FLOW CHANGE DUE TO STAFFING; THERE WERE ONLY 3 PEOPLE IN THE TWR AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO INITIATE A FLOW CHANGE. THUS WE STAYED IN A 'TAILWIND' SITUATION DURING THE MORNING RUSH OF ACFT LNDG AT SEATTLE WHICH WAS COMPROMISING SAFETY. THERE IS NO WAY WE SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN A S CONFIGN. ACFT SAFETY WAS NOT COMPROMISED THIS TIME BUT DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING -- SAFETY MARGIN OF ERROR IS CONTINUALLY BEING TESTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.