Pns runway selection.

Attributes
ACN	285616
Time
Date	199410
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : pns
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : pns
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Amateur (Home) Built
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 72
ASRS Report	285616
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

The local tower says it is their policy to use runway 17 at pns when the winds are less than 10 KTS. This afternoon, the winds were reported as 350 degrees at 6 KTS. Runway 35 was in use. I was inbound for a straight-in approach with clearance for the option. At approximately 4 1/2 NM from touchdown, tower advised me that I would have to use runway 17 if I desired to remain in the pattern for touch and goes. I asked for the winds, which were still 350 degrees at 6 KTS. I then asked why the runway switch? Tower then advised me of the aforementioned policy. They further said that by using runway 17, it allows the use of the ILS. Bear in mind that the WX was severe VFR! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: tower supervisor stated it is facility policy to use runway 17 when wind is below 7 KTS. When wind gets above this speed they change to runway 35.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PNS RWY SELECTION.

Narrative: THE LCL TWR SAYS IT IS THEIR POLICY TO USE RWY 17 AT PNS WHEN THE WINDS ARE LESS THAN 10 KTS. THIS AFTERNOON, THE WINDS WERE RPTED AS 350 DEGS AT 6 KTS. RWY 35 WAS IN USE. I WAS INBOUND FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APCH WITH CLRNC FOR THE OPTION. AT APPROX 4 1/2 NM FROM TOUCHDOWN, TWR ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO USE RWY 17 IF I DESIRED TO REMAIN IN THE PATTERN FOR TOUCH AND GOES. I ASKED FOR THE WINDS, WHICH WERE STILL 350 DEGS AT 6 KTS. I THEN ASKED WHY THE RWY SWITCH? TWR THEN ADVISED ME OF THE AFOREMENTIONED POLICY. THEY FURTHER SAID THAT BY USING RWY 17, IT ALLOWS THE USE OF THE ILS. BEAR IN MIND THAT THE WX WAS SEVERE VFR! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: TWR SUPVR STATED IT IS FACILITY POLICY TO USE RWY 17 WHEN WIND IS BELOW 7 KTS. WHEN WIND GETS ABOVE THIS SPD THEY CHANGE TO RWY 35.

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.