Narrative:

On the january 2019 update to the RNAV (GPS) 18 approach at pof; poplar bluff municipal; poplar bluff; missouri a note was added: 'straight-in and circling runway 18 na at night.' apparently the FAA 'flight checked' the approach sometime in october 2018 and found a tree had grown into the safety area for the runway 18 approach. No notification was given to airport management and on january 2019 the new note on the approach appeared. First it seems that the FAA might have reached out to airport management to perhaps try to remove the tree before changing the notes on the instrument approach procedure. The note is very ambiguous as to what it means. The way I read the note it means that one can shoot the approach but not land on runway 18 from a straight-in or circle. I was told by airport management that it means that one could not shoot the runway 18 approach at night. I queried memphis center as to the restriction and the controller said that the center was not aware of any restrictions to the approach. If the note is meant to restrict the approach at night then a more clear note would be something like: 'procedure na at night.' if the note means one cannot land from a straight-in or circle to runway 18 at night then why does the RNAV (GPS) 36 approach plate not have a note restricting circle to runway 18? The whole process seems to have been ill coordinated and poorly written. If there is an obstacle that is a hazard to operations on runway 18 it should be more clearly written as to restrict the whole approach procedure at night or restrict landing from a straight-in or circling to runway 18 at night.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Instructor pilot reported confusion regarding a new note the FAA has attached to the RNAV approach at POF.

Narrative: On the January 2019 update to the RNAV (GPS) 18 Approach at POF; Poplar Bluff Municipal; Poplar Bluff; Missouri a note was added: 'Straight-in and Circling RWY 18 NA at night.' Apparently the FAA 'flight checked' the approach sometime in October 2018 and found a tree had grown into the safety area for the Runway 18 Approach. No notification was given to airport management and on January 2019 the new note on the approach appeared. First it seems that the FAA might have reached out to airport management to perhaps try to remove the tree before changing the notes on the instrument approach procedure. The note is very ambiguous as to what it means. The way I read the note it means that one can shoot the approach but not land on Runway 18 from a straight-in or circle. I was told by airport management that it means that one could not shoot the Runway 18 Approach at night. I queried Memphis Center as to the restriction and the Controller said that the Center was not aware of any restrictions to the approach. If the note is meant to restrict the approach at night then a more clear note would be something like: 'Procedure NA at night.' If the note means one cannot land from a straight-in or circle to Runway 18 at night then why does the RNAV (GPS) 36 Approach plate not have a note restricting circle to Runway 18? The whole process seems to have been ill coordinated and poorly written. If there is an obstacle that is a hazard to operations on Runway 18 it should be more clearly written as to restrict the whole approach procedure at night or restrict landing from a straight-in or circling to Runway 18 at night.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.