Chart format problem. Aeronautical chart presentation commercial NOAA.

Attributes
ACN	295184
Time
Date	199501
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rdu
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : rdu
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 6350 flight time type : 1100
ASRS Report	295184
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Narrative:

When we were approaching raleigh the WX visibility was 1/2 mi. The ATIS reported the rails were out for runway 23L. After I asked for runway 23L the copilot informed me the RAIL was out. At the same time the controller reported it also. I then requested runway 23R. I find that the information in the government charts is not very easy to find when a person is not familiar with the format. The visibility penalty is inside the front cover. The private company charts show this information right on the approach plate. I would suggest the government charts go to this format.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CHART FORMAT PROB. AERO CHART PRESENTATION COMMERCIAL NOAA.

Narrative: WHEN WE WERE APCHING RALEIGH THE WX VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI. THE ATIS RPTED THE RAILS WERE OUT FOR RWY 23L. AFTER I ASKED FOR RWY 23L THE COPLT INFORMED ME THE RAIL WAS OUT. AT THE SAME TIME THE CTLR RPTED IT ALSO. I THEN REQUESTED RWY 23R. I FIND THAT THE INFO IN THE GOV CHARTS IS NOT VERY EASY TO FIND WHEN A PERSON IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FORMAT. THE VISIBILITY PENALTY IS INSIDE THE FRONT COVER. THE PVT COMPANY CHARTS SHOW THIS INFO RIGHT ON THE APCH PLATE. I WOULD SUGGEST THE GOV CHARTS GO TO THIS FORMAT.

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.