CFI concerned regarding increase of 200' on DH for ILS approach at roc. NOTAM not given by FSS.

Attributes
ACN	163794
Time
Date	199011
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : roc
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 798 msl bound upper : 1000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : roc
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Fixed Gear
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1700 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	163794
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

This does not describe an actual event. There is a facility NOTAM for ILS 28 at roc raising the DH 202', from 798 to 1000. It is not routinely given by buf FSS during a full briefing, it is not available on duat, it is not broadcast on ATIS. The TRACON controllers pause when asked to verify. I know it is in the published NOTAMS but most GA pilots do not subscribe to them. This way of burying safety information in the system is dangerous. Why not put the NOTAM on FSS specialists' screens and on duat? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter states he learned of change from NOTAM on duat. However, about 4 weeks later when published it no longer appeared. Approach controllers always have to stop and check if questioned. This a temporary change due to construction cranes near approach path. Tower manager was questioned at a flying club meeting and said he would check if it seemed appropriate for ATIS. No change has occurred.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CFI CONCERNED REGARDING INCREASE OF 200' ON DH FOR ILS APCH AT ROC. NOTAM NOT GIVEN BY FSS.

Narrative: THIS DOES NOT DESCRIBE AN ACTUAL EVENT. THERE IS A FAC NOTAM FOR ILS 28 AT ROC RAISING THE DH 202', FROM 798 TO 1000. IT IS NOT ROUTINELY GIVEN BY BUF FSS DURING A FULL BRIEFING, IT IS NOT AVAILABLE ON DUAT, IT IS NOT BROADCAST ON ATIS. THE TRACON CTLRS PAUSE WHEN ASKED TO VERIFY. I KNOW IT IS IN THE PUBLISHED NOTAMS BUT MOST GA PLTS DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THEM. THIS WAY OF BURYING SAFETY INFO IN THE SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS. WHY NOT PUT THE NOTAM ON FSS SPECIALISTS' SCREENS AND ON DUAT? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR STATES HE LEARNED OF CHANGE FROM NOTAM ON DUAT. HOWEVER, ABOUT 4 WKS LATER WHEN PUBLISHED IT NO LONGER APPEARED. APCH CTLRS ALWAYS HAVE TO STOP AND CHK IF QUESTIONED. THIS A TEMPORARY CHANGE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION CRANES NEAR APCH PATH. TWR MGR WAS QUESTIONED AT A FLYING CLUB MEETING AND SAID HE WOULD CHK IF IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR ATIS. NO CHANGE HAS OCCURRED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.