I'm totally ok with the Dash-8s doing their approach and landings on 31L. What I'm not ok with is the fact that controllers are allowing 31L landings by the Dash-8s, Comair RJs and a high number of Delta jets when I'm number 35 for takeoff on 31L. I understand the requirement on getting planes out of the sky, but when we're fuel limited to the west coast for winds, or if I'm crossing the Atlantic, nothing burns me more than to have to wait for a -8 to land on 31L when the conga line is that long for departure!!!
Blue Bayou, I understand your sentiment. This is a big issue for us too. We have carte blanche on 31L from about 230pm-530pm, when our major arrival push goes on each day - we average about 200 arrivals in those 3 hours usually. In that case 31L is a necessity. After 530pm, the tower ususally takes 31L from us for the departure rush at 6pm-9pm. However, around 7-8, we get a huge arrival push, and are forced to put some a/c on 31L. There is a big debate over favoring arrivals vs departures at that time, we see it as the arrivals are airborne and need to land, especially with the huge jump in fuel emergencies and min fuels lately... But we are aware of the conga line for departure as well.