ATC equipment problem navigation NDB approach.

Attributes
ACN	323874
Time
Date	199512
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : btr
State Reference	LA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 600 msl bound upper : 600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : btr
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller military : 2 controller non radar : 1 controller radar : 7
ASRS Report	323874
Person 2
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

The NDB approach to runway 31 at btr is very inconsistent. Aircraft on one day will all be 1/2 mi left of course, while the next day, they are all 1 mi right. With the strong northwest winds after cold frontal passage, there is no reliable instrument approach to btr with low ceilings. The minimums to backcourse runway 4L are too high for 400-600 ft ceilings. The most appropriate action would be a ground based GPS differential unit at btr. This would also allow other approachs to btr in other WX conditions without relying on the ILS/VOR system.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC EQUIP PROB NAV NDB APCH.

Narrative: THE NDB APCH TO RWY 31 AT BTR IS VERY INCONSISTENT. ACFT ON ONE DAY WILL ALL BE 1/2 MI L OF COURSE, WHILE THE NEXT DAY, THEY ARE ALL 1 MI R. WITH THE STRONG NW WINDS AFTER COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE, THERE IS NO RELIABLE INSTRUMENT APCH TO BTR WITH LOW CEILINGS. THE MINIMUMS TO BACKCOURSE RWY 4L ARE TOO HIGH FOR 400-600 FT CEILINGS. THE MOST APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE A GND BASED GPS DIFFERENTIAL UNIT AT BTR. THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW OTHER APCHS TO BTR IN OTHER WX CONDITIONS WITHOUT RELYING ON THE ILS/VOR SYS.

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.