Okay, REALLY?

[Harold Rutila]

This was a misunderstanding as to why JFK inserted a "use the assigned runway" clause in their ATIS recording. Disregard!

I recorded it here. It sounds like a live person is on the other end, too   .

[Alex Evins]

Harold,

Kennedy tower has included that line in their ATIS for at least the last 20 years. It's nothing new or special. Despite this many aircraft still request a different runway. Often departing aircraft, for example, assigned runway 31L will request 31R. This can be a problem with the all the arriving traffic to that runway, so the prescribed phraseology (JFK Order 7110.65K) is "departing/arriving runway XXX will be subject to conforming traffic" - this usually causes pilots to cancel their request and take the assigned runway.

[Harold Rutila]

Harold,

Kennedy tower has included that line in their ATIS for at least the last 20 years. It's nothing new or special. Despite this many aircraft still request a different runway. Often departing aircraft, for example, assigned runway 31L will request 31R. This can be a problem with the all the arriving traffic to that runway, so the prescribed phraseology (JFK Order 7110.65K) is "departing/arriving runway XXX will be subject to conforming traffic" - this usually causes pilots to cancel their request and take the assigned runway.

Ahh okay, now that makes sense. For an outsider, that just sounds plain ridiculous, as if aircraft are taxiing to different runways than they are assigned. Now I feel slightly embarrassed   lol. Thanks for the clarification.