ATIS indicated ILS 27L approach in use and advised components out of service (glide slope).

Attributes
ACN	126328
Time
Date	198910
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : cvg
State Reference	OH
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : elp
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	ils localizer & glide slope : cvg
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 8700 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	126328
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

ATIS called for 'ILS 27L approach in use,' then proceeded to name off the functions that were unusable. The G/south was unusable, therefore an ILS approach is not authority/authorized. I believe the terminology that should be used would be 'localizer 27L approach in use' to avoid any misconceptions or misunderstandings by flight crews. It is little things like this that create traps for airmen, yet the blame can be laid on pilot error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATIS INDICATED ILS 27L APCH IN USE AND ADVISED COMPONENTS OUT OF SERVICE (GLIDE SLOPE).

Narrative: ATIS CALLED FOR 'ILS 27L APCH IN USE,' THEN PROCEEDED TO NAME OFF THE FUNCTIONS THAT WERE UNUSABLE. THE G/S WAS UNUSABLE, THEREFORE AN ILS APCH IS NOT AUTH. I BELIEVE THE TERMINOLOGY THAT SHOULD BE USED WOULD BE 'LOC 27L APCH IN USE' TO AVOID ANY MISCONCEPTIONS OR MISUNDERSTANDINGS BY FLT CREWS. IT IS LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT CREATE TRAPS FOR AIRMEN, YET THE BLAME CAN BE LAID ON PLT ERROR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.