Wind and ATC on FSX?

Question

Why on flight simulator x does the atc always have you takeoff and land on the opposite runways they use in real life? For example if there's one runway say 27 and 9 they always have you land on 9. If there's a cross runways they have you land on the cross runway. It makes no sense to me.

Answer 1

You will most always be assigned a runway that is most aligned with the wind.  Runways at airports are aligned with the prominate wind after lengthy scientific studies.  Some airports, such as LAX will use certain runways base on noise abatement and traffic congestion.  Almost all airports have a "calm wind" runway, meaning that a runway will be assigned as the runway with the least amount of congestion and noise.

Answer 2

Microsoft Flight Simulator will have you land and take off into the wind.  If the wind is 270 at 9, you'll be assigned to runway 27; if it is 090 at 9, you'll be assigned to runway 9.  This closely mirrors real life, although some airports have special procedures or restrictions with respect to runways (for example, LAX always lands and takes off to the west in real life, unless the wind is blowing from the east above a certain speed).