No VASI or PAPI lights on runway 17 at publication create black hole approach.

Attributes
ACN	292272
Time
Date	199412
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pub
State Reference	CO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	292272
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

Runway 17 is a classic 'black hole' approach. City lights south and west of runway 17 and total blackness (at night) on approach to runway 17. It is difficult to plan and fly a good visual approach to runway 17 at night. I find often that I will be too high one time and next time may be too low. Runway 17 is in need of a VASI or PAPI system, and without delay!!! Several of my fellow pilots that have flown into publication at night agree. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: publication air traffic manager stated the city has been informed a VASI system is needed on runway 17 but currently have no plans to install one.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: NO VASI OR PAPI LIGHTS ON RWY 17 AT PUB CREATE BLACK HOLE APCH.

Narrative: RWY 17 IS A CLASSIC 'BLACK HOLE' APCH. CITY LIGHTS S AND W OF RWY 17 AND TOTAL BLACKNESS (AT NIGHT) ON APCH TO RWY 17. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PLAN AND FLY A GOOD VISUAL APCH TO RWY 17 AT NIGHT. I FIND OFTEN THAT I WILL BE TOO HIGH ONE TIME AND NEXT TIME MAY BE TOO LOW. RWY 17 IS IN NEED OF A VASI OR PAPI SYS, AND WITHOUT DELAY!!! SEVERAL OF MY FELLOW PLTS THAT HAVE FLOWN INTO PUB AT NIGHT AGREE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PUB AIR TFC MGR STATED THE CITY HAS BEEN INFORMED A VASI SYS IS NEEDED ON RWY 17 BUT CURRENTLY HAVE NO PLANS TO INSTALL ONE.

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.