Narrative:

VOR approach to swf is hazardous under IMC conditions. It definitely appears that if WX were at minimums 940' MSL, 1 mi visibility, vdp of 13.8, one would need to be left of course at vdp and make a further left turn followed by a right turn to get into position to land. We made the approach at night with a tailwind aloft. The runway lights on step 1, WX well above minimums and it was tough to get into position to land. I suggest FAA check it out. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information. Reporter indicated he had made a report to his company that the VOR runway 27 approach to swf not be used to minimums feeling that in a medium large transport type aircraft the runway could not be aligned and a safe landing accomplished if the field was not sighted until 1 mi out on the approach from 472' above the field elevation. If the approach was performed perfectly and the runway sighted at one mi a sidestep and turn back to runway alignment would be a dangerous maneuver.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: REPORTER CONSIDERS THE VOR APCH TO SWF AS IMPRACTICAL.

Narrative: VOR APCH TO SWF IS HAZARDOUS UNDER IMC CONDITIONS. IT DEFINITELY APPEARS THAT IF WX WERE AT MINIMUMS 940' MSL, 1 MI VISIBILITY, VDP OF 13.8, ONE WOULD NEED TO BE LEFT OF COURSE AT VDP AND MAKE A FURTHER L TURN FOLLOWED BY A R TURN TO GET INTO POS TO LAND. WE MADE THE APCH AT NIGHT WITH A TAILWIND ALOFT. THE RWY LIGHTS ON STEP 1, WX WELL ABOVE MINIMUMS AND IT WAS TOUGH TO GET INTO POS TO LAND. I SUGGEST FAA CHK IT OUT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO. RPTR INDICATED HE HAD MADE A RPT TO HIS COMPANY THAT THE VOR RWY 27 APCH TO SWF NOT BE USED TO MINIMUMS FEELING THAT IN A MLG TYPE ACFT THE RWY COULD NOT BE ALIGNED AND A SAFE LNDG ACCOMPLISHED IF THE FIELD WAS NOT SIGHTED UNTIL 1 MI OUT ON THE APCH FROM 472' ABOVE THE FIELD ELEVATION. IF THE APCH WAS PERFORMED PERFECTLY AND THE RWY SIGHTED AT ONE MI A SIDESTEP AND TURN BACK TO RWY ALIGNMENT WOULD BE A DANGEROUS MANEUVER.

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.