Narrative:

Normal procedure is to contact ellsworth approach when told to by ZDV (normally from 20-45 mi out). Ellsworth is to give rapid city WX and airport information. That in there lies the problem. When we contact ellsworth they babble. We may get winds and that is all or maybe an altitude setting or if we are real lucky we get ceiling information too. There is no order to information given or even what information is given. It seems we have to play 20 questions to get rap WX and airport conditions. On today's flight WX in route was clear. As we approached rap we could see an overcast which to us appeared to cover airport and extend to black hills west. We could not see airport when we were within 18 mi of 10000 ft MSL on heading 040 degrees. When we were 20-30 mi out I contacted ellsworth and asked for WX and conditions at rap. I was given wind and altitude setting, no temperature or sky conditions. I asked 4 more times, no answer. We could see the overcast layer which to us appeared to be at (tops) 500-1000 ft AGL. We were told to turn right to 080 degrees, descend to 8000 ft, report the field in sight for visual to runway 32 and we were #2 to follow traffic at 2 O'clock out of 8000 ft for 5000 ft. We executed the clearance. No problem. I again asked sky conditions at rap, no answer. At about 15 mi through 9000 ft MSL heading 080 degree, we were cleared for visual approach to runway 32. I immediately advised ellsworth approach that we 'did not have field in sight,' no answer. Reported 'did not have field in sight' 2 more times, no answer. I did report field in sight a few seconds later, and then was told 'again you are cleared visual runway 32, contact tower.' ellsworth is the problem. I believe airport WX is to be given a certain way as set for by aim.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MIL FACILITY APCH CTL ATC HANDLING.

Narrative: NORMAL PROC IS TO CONTACT ELLSWORTH APCH WHEN TOLD TO BY ZDV (NORMALLY FROM 20-45 MI OUT). ELLSWORTH IS TO GIVE RAPID CITY WX AND ARPT INFO. THAT IN THERE LIES THE PROB. WHEN WE CONTACT ELLSWORTH THEY BABBLE. WE MAY GET WINDS AND THAT IS ALL OR MAYBE AN ALT SETTING OR IF WE ARE REAL LUCKY WE GET CEILING INFO TOO. THERE IS NO ORDER TO INFO GIVEN OR EVEN WHAT INFO IS GIVEN. IT SEEMS WE HAVE TO PLAY 20 QUESTIONS TO GET RAP WX AND ARPT CONDITIONS. ON TODAY'S FLT WX IN RTE WAS CLR. AS WE APCHED RAP WE COULD SEE AN OVCST WHICH TO US APPEARED TO COVER ARPT AND EXTEND TO BLACK HILLS W. WE COULD NOT SEE ARPT WHEN WE WERE WITHIN 18 MI OF 10000 FT MSL ON HDG 040 DEGS. WHEN WE WERE 20-30 MI OUT I CONTACTED ELLSWORTH AND ASKED FOR WX AND CONDITIONS AT RAP. I WAS GIVEN WIND AND ALT SETTING, NO TEMP OR SKY CONDITIONS. I ASKED 4 MORE TIMES, NO ANSWER. WE COULD SEE THE OVCST LAYER WHICH TO US APPEARED TO BE AT (TOPS) 500-1000 FT AGL. WE WERE TOLD TO TURN R TO 080 DEGS, DSND TO 8000 FT, RPT THE FIELD IN SIGHT FOR VISUAL TO RWY 32 AND WE WERE #2 TO FOLLOW TFC AT 2 O'CLOCK OUT OF 8000 FT FOR 5000 FT. WE EXECUTED THE CLRNC. NO PROB. I AGAIN ASKED SKY CONDITIONS AT RAP, NO ANSWER. AT ABOUT 15 MI THROUGH 9000 FT MSL HDG 080 DEG, WE WERE CLRED FOR VISUAL APCH TO RWY 32. I IMMEDIATELY ADVISED ELLSWORTH APCH THAT WE 'DID NOT HAVE FIELD IN SIGHT,' NO ANSWER. RPTED 'DID NOT HAVE FIELD IN SIGHT' 2 MORE TIMES, NO ANSWER. I DID RPT FIELD IN SIGHT A FEW SECONDS LATER, AND THEN WAS TOLD 'AGAIN YOU ARE CLRED VISUAL RWY 32, CONTACT TWR.' ELLSWORTH IS THE PROB. I BELIEVE ARPT WX IS TO BE GIVEN A CERTAIN WAY AS SET FOR BY AIM.

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.