I put two of my friends on a flight with my AAdvantage miles from SNA to DFW to CUN today. (my wedding present. )

One of them calls me up and says the takeoff of AA 2036 (SNA-DFW) delayed due to the strong Santa Ana winds. Scheduled takeoff was 10:55 and their actual takeoff was 11:36. After landing at DFW, she called me and said they were boarded on time, but waited for wind gusts to die down prior to takeoff.

Santa Ana winds generally blow east to west, and from what I know, there usually isn't a problem as the takeoffs use the winds to their advantage and takeoff facing inland versus over the Pacific.

My question is what is the maximum windspeed a 737-800 can takeoff at? Were they held on the ground by the tower? Does the pilot make their own determination to wait for a break in the wind? Just curious since I see perfectly fine takeoffs from SNA in the Santa Ana winds all the time.


Steve

Santa Ana winds are warm and blow from the east.

The current LA winds are cool and blowing from the north.

Crosswinds on an EW-oriented runway?

During the 2 hours in question, the winds were:

KSNA 051953Z 03020G28KT
KSNA 051853Z 04016G25KT

I can't say for certain, but I would guess either the aircraft's demonstrated crosswind component, or the company maximum wind velocity was exceeded. Either of those things could result in a delay.

EDIT: Also should add, the numbers above mean that the wind was from 030 or 040 degrees, gusting to as high as 28 knots.

Do you have the rest of the METAR? was it wet otherwise it doesn't seem that strong a wind.

Sometimes it is too windy to land also

With total winds under 30kt, the tower wouldn't be holding aircraft except for added spacing of arriving aircraft. Since SNA is a pretty short strip (5700 feet), you'd want to take extra caution, so this was either the pilot's call, or possibly AA has certain rules for flight ops into SNA. At most airports, AA will fly if the winds are under 50kt. That being said, the pilot has the final call. It's not unheard of for a more junior flight crew to cancel/delay a flight even if weather conditions are well below the aircraft/company's published limits. If they don't feel safe they don't fly.

Yeah:

KSNA 051953Z 03020G28KT 10SM CLR 17/M15 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 06030/1937 SLP202 T01721150
KSNA 051853Z 04016G25KT 10SM CLR 17/M12 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 05027/1839 SLP204 T01671122

A peak wind of 060 degrees gusting to 30 knots (PK WND 06030) would have resulted in a 23 knot crosswind takeoff (runway is 01). Although I'm not familiar with the aircraft in question, considering the other factors at SNA it may have been either an airline policy or flight crew decision.

This morning, I found out the winds were quite bad. They closed off parts of I-10 due to the same high winds blowing over big rigs.

Thanks for the info. I checked departures and quite a number of flights were delayed out of SNA yesterday.

Anyways, my friends made their connecting flight. AA 1211 (DFW-CUN) was over an hour late anyways.


Steve

It might depend on the aircraft. A couple summers ago, I returned home to be with family as a hurricane approached. As we took off from CLE, the pilot announced that we could not land safely in crosswinds over 30 and they were currently gusting to 28 at ATL. The a/c was a DL 737. He indicated that the limit was a/c specific.

OP said it was a 738. Given that and that it was cavok would seem to be a company policy rather than aircraft SOP.