Narrative:

Taking off near runway 19 limit of 144.3 at closeout weight of 142.5 with max power; winds were reported variable at 4 on the ATIS. A query to tower gave a response of 120/4. Getting to the end of the runway 19 at the #1 position; it was quite evident that the windsock was not indicating the east wind; but a northerly wind; and was mostly straight; indicating much more than 4 KTS. Looking back over my shoulder to runway 15; its windsock was straight out and indicating a north wind as well. Looking to the right; the windsock for runway 22 was indicating a north wind as well; and it was mostly straight out; and down a bit from time to time. Surmising that the wind was really 360/8-10 KTS; I did not attempt to takeoff. Tower was informed of our predicament. I could only withstand 2 KTS of tailwind. I could gain about a knot with packs off; and if I burned down to the minimum takeoff fuel; I could stand about another 2 KTS; but the actual observed wind velocity was much more than what I could handle according to the performance data as indicated by the three windsocks we could see. Meanwhile; aircraft were taking off and landing. Numerous calls to tower resulted in the same wind readout: 120/4. A 737 said he could handle the tailwind as he taxied up to runway 19. That statement verified my observation and was a direct contradiction of the tower called winds. He then took off. Looking around after some time; we could see that the midfield windsock as to the right of the pole from our vantage point but we could not tell if it was indicating a north wind; or a southeast wind. We called tower and asked about the direction of the other windsock on the field and all they would say was: 'all the socks point the same.' I asked more than once and that was all they would say. When asked specifically which way they pointed; all they would say was 'all the socks point the same way.' I radioed back: 'well; the three windsocks up here are indicating a north wind and you're running a south operation.' after a few more minutes; dca turned the field around. We took off on runway 1; packs off; with the windsock indicating a headwind; but the called winds were still 120/4. Dca is too short to be using a tailwind. When all the windsocks point the same; you'd think that common sense would prevail and aircraft would takeoff and land into the wind. As it was; we were 36 minutes in taking off; but we were safe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Weight critical air carrier awaiting departure at DCA described conflicting wind reports from ATC vs. windsock observations.

Narrative: Taking off near Runway 19 limit of 144.3 at closeout weight of 142.5 with max power; winds were reported variable at 4 on the ATIS. A query to Tower gave a response of 120/4. Getting to the end of the Runway 19 at the #1 position; it was quite evident that the windsock was not indicating the East wind; but a Northerly wind; and was mostly straight; indicating much more than 4 KTS. Looking back over my shoulder to Runway 15; its windsock was straight out and indicating a North wind as well. Looking to the right; the windsock for Runway 22 was indicating a North wind as well; and it was mostly straight out; and down a bit from time to time. Surmising that the wind was really 360/8-10 KTS; I did not attempt to takeoff. Tower was informed of our predicament. I could only withstand 2 KTS of tailwind. I could gain about a knot with packs off; and if I burned down to the minimum takeoff fuel; I could stand about another 2 KTS; but the actual observed wind velocity was much more than what I could handle according to the performance data as indicated by the three windsocks we could see. Meanwhile; aircraft were taking off and landing. Numerous calls to Tower resulted in the same wind readout: 120/4. A 737 said he could handle the tailwind as he taxied up to Runway 19. That statement verified my observation and was a direct contradiction of the Tower called winds. He then took off. Looking around after some time; we could see that the midfield windsock as to the right of the pole from our vantage point but we could not tell if it was indicating a North wind; or a Southeast wind. We called Tower and asked about the direction of the other windsock on the field and all they would say was: 'all the socks point the same.' I asked more than once and that was all they would say. When asked specifically which way they pointed; all they would say was 'all the socks point the same way.' I radioed back: 'Well; the three windsocks up here are indicating a North wind and you're running a South operation.' After a few more minutes; DCA turned the field around. We took off on Runway 1; packs off; with the windsock indicating a headwind; but the called winds were still 120/4. DCA is too short to be using a tailwind. When all the windsocks point the same; you'd think that common sense would prevail and aircraft would takeoff and land into the wind. As it was; we were 36 minutes in taking off; but we were safe.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.