Narrative:

The pmh NDB failed an FAA flight inspection in late 1991, and was notamed OTS. Since that time, the NDB has continued to radiate on the advertised frequency of 373 KHZ, with its identify pmh on the air. The latest FAA airport facility directory (may/xx/93) shows the NDB as OTS indefinitely, as does the FAA's battle creek flight inspection office at pmh airport. Paragraph 1-14 of the aim says that the identify will be removed or t-e-south-T put in its place when a NAVAID is OTS. Additionally, paragraph 1-2 of the aim says that reception of an NDB's morse code identify likely indicates normal operation of the NAVAID. At present, only the airport facility directory and the L-22 chart indicate that the NDB is or may be OTS. The instrument approach chart for NDB runway 36 is still published without any note on it as to the NDB's status. Many local pilots continue to use the NDB and the approach in VFR conditions. One local flight school uses the pmh NDB for both navigation and approach training. I suggest that if the NDB is unable to pass the required FAA flight inspection for IFR use, that the NDB be made a VFR use NDB. Also, until such time as a decision is made, the morse code identify pmh should be immediately removed, and/or the morse code t-e-south-T put it its place. Even better may be to remove the NDB from the air until it meets specifications or is made a VFR use only NDB. Continued use of this NDB during its present status is a hazard, and could be teaching dangerous patterns to other pilots. Callback conversation with day AFSS revealed the following information: a call to day AFSS reveals that the existing NOTAM on pmh states that it is unusable for IFR. It does not state that it can't be used for VFR or practice NDB approachs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPT FROM CTLR CLAIMS THAT PMH NDB IS NOTAMED OTS INDEFINITELY, HOWEVER, THE NAVAID STILL REMAINS ON THE AIR.

Narrative: THE PMH NDB FAILED AN FAA FLT INSPECTION IN LATE 1991, AND WAS NOTAMED OTS. SINCE THAT TIME, THE NDB HAS CONTINUED TO RADIATE ON THE ADVERTISED FREQ OF 373 KHZ, WITH ITS IDENT PMH ON THE AIR. THE LATEST FAA ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY (MAY/XX/93) SHOWS THE NDB AS OTS INDEFINITELY, AS DOES THE FAA'S BATTLE CREEK FLT INSPECTION OFFICE AT PMH ARPT. PARAGRAPH 1-14 OF THE AIM SAYS THAT THE IDENT WILL BE REMOVED OR T-E-S-T PUT IN ITS PLACE WHEN A NAVAID IS OTS. ADDITIONALLY, PARAGRAPH 1-2 OF THE AIM SAYS THAT RECEPTION OF AN NDB'S MORSE CODE IDENT LIKELY INDICATES NORMAL OP OF THE NAVAID. AT PRESENT, ONLY THE ARPT FACILITY DIRECTORY AND THE L-22 CHART INDICATE THAT THE NDB IS OR MAY BE OTS. THE INST APCH CHART FOR NDB RWY 36 IS STILL PUBLISHED WITHOUT ANY NOTE ON IT AS TO THE NDB'S STATUS. MANY LCL PLTS CONTINUE TO USE THE NDB AND THE APCH IN VFR CONDITIONS. ONE LCL FLT SCHOOL USES THE PMH NDB FOR BOTH NAV AND APCH TRAINING. I SUGGEST THAT IF THE NDB IS UNABLE TO PASS THE REQUIRED FAA FLT INSPECTION FOR IFR USE, THAT THE NDB BE MADE A VFR USE NDB. ALSO, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A DECISION IS MADE, THE MORSE CODE IDENT PMH SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED, AND/OR THE MORSE CODE T-E-S-T PUT IT ITS PLACE. EVEN BETTER MAY BE TO REMOVE THE NDB FROM THE AIR UNTIL IT MEETS SPECS OR IS MADE A VFR USE ONLY NDB. CONTINUED USE OF THIS NDB DURING ITS PRESENT STATUS IS A HAZARD, AND COULD BE TEACHING DANGEROUS PATTERNS TO OTHER PLTS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH DAY AFSS REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: A CALL TO DAY AFSS REVEALS THAT THE EXISTING NOTAM ON PMH STATES THAT IT IS UNUSABLE FOR IFR. IT DOES NOT STATE THAT IT CAN'T BE USED FOR VFR OR PRACTICE NDB APCHS.

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.