Narrative:

It is my hope that this report will be used to justify the need for an approach at eareckson afs, ak (sya) that does not use the sya DME. I was on a military charter flight from adak NAS to eareckson afs, ak. The WX at sya was 17 scattered, 20 broken, 45 overcast, visibility 7, rainshowers. Since all approachs at sya require the use of the sya DME (the radar is out permanently), the only option available to us was to descend in the charted holding pattern over the sya VOR. The lowest allowable altitude for this pattern is 2500 ft (as assigned by zan). It was our hope that while holding, a break in the clouds could be found allowing a VFR descent with the field in sight. Although breaks were present, none were large enough to allow us to descend. Today, the sya WX was well above approach minimums, but without the DME, our options were severely limited. In my opinion, a non- FAF type of approach using the sya VOR could easily be developed. Having this type of approach today would have made the difference. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states the radar has been shut down due to the air force leaving the station. It has been out for about 8 months and will not be reactivated. Reporter feels there is no terrain problem with a VOR approach since most of the approach would be over water. There are some 200 ft radar antennas but not much else that would be a problem. Aircraft was a B737, so it services a great many people and the area should really have an instrument approach that is usable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG MUST DIVERT DUE TO RADAR OTS FOR APCH.

Narrative: IT IS MY HOPE THAT THIS RPT WILL BE USED TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR AN APCH AT EARECKSON AFS, AK (SYA) THAT DOES NOT USE THE SYA DME. I WAS ON A MIL CHARTER FLT FROM ADAK NAS TO EARECKSON AFS, AK. THE WX AT SYA WAS 17 SCATTERED, 20 BROKEN, 45 OVCST, VISIBILITY 7, RAINSHOWERS. SINCE ALL APCHS AT SYA REQUIRE THE USE OF THE SYA DME (THE RADAR IS OUT PERMANENTLY), THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO US WAS TO DSND IN THE CHARTED HOLDING PATTERN OVER THE SYA VOR. THE LOWEST ALLOWABLE ALT FOR THIS PATTERN IS 2500 FT (AS ASSIGNED BY ZAN). IT WAS OUR HOPE THAT WHILE HOLDING, A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS COULD BE FOUND ALLOWING A VFR DSCNT WITH THE FIELD IN SIGHT. ALTHOUGH BREAKS WERE PRESENT, NONE WERE LARGE ENOUGH TO ALLOW US TO DSND. TODAY, THE SYA WX WAS WELL ABOVE APCH MINIMUMS, BUT WITHOUT THE DME, OUR OPTIONS WERE SEVERELY LIMITED. IN MY OPINION, A NON- FAF TYPE OF APCH USING THE SYA VOR COULD EASILY BE DEVELOPED. HAVING THIS TYPE OF APCH TODAY WOULD HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE RADAR HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE AIR FORCE LEAVING THE STATION. IT HAS BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND WILL NOT BE REACTIVATED. RPTR FEELS THERE IS NO TERRAIN PROB WITH A VOR APCH SINCE MOST OF THE APCH WOULD BE OVER WATER. THERE ARE SOME 200 FT RADAR ANTENNAS BUT NOT MUCH ELSE THAT WOULD BE A PROB. ACFT WAS A B737, SO IT SVCS A GREAT MANY PEOPLE AND THE AREA SHOULD REALLY HAVE AN INST APCH THAT IS USABLE.

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.