Narrative:

NOTAMS showed ILS and DME OTS. We were advised by dispatch that the VOR was out (no NOTAM though). That left an NDB approach. The WX was above minimums and improving so the flight was dispatched. Upon arrival in the local area, we found the glh VOR was working and identing ok, but center said it was out. We also found that this missed approach for the NDB involved tracking a radial off the glh VOR, thus rendering the approach unusable, save alternate missed instructions, which I have been told that we (part 121 carrier) cannot use. We were cleared for the approach, and got the field visually at the same time. We elected to fly the course reversal, then landed visually. Factors: 1) the information that the VOR was OTS needs to be forwarded to crews in a timely manner. We did not receive the information until 5 mins prior to departure, which did not allow us time to analyze the information. 2) if components are out which disable all approachs at an airfield, while leaving some components intact, it would be helpful if a NOTAM pointed out the airfield was visual approachs only. 3) if a navigation component is required for an approach, it should be marked on the plate (like ADF required) or the approach should be named 'NDB/VOR runway 36L' etc. We missed it because it was in the details of the miss, not where one looks during preflight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION OVER OTS COMPONENTS AND POORLY FORMATTED APCH CHARTS LEAD FLC OF SF340 TO RELY ON VISUAL APCH AT GLH, MS.

Narrative: NOTAMS SHOWED ILS AND DME OTS. WE WERE ADVISED BY DISPATCH THAT THE VOR WAS OUT (NO NOTAM THOUGH). THAT LEFT AN NDB APCH. THE WX WAS ABOVE MINIMUMS AND IMPROVING SO THE FLT WAS DISPATCHED. UPON ARR IN THE LCL AREA, WE FOUND THE GLH VOR WAS WORKING AND IDENTING OK, BUT CTR SAID IT WAS OUT. WE ALSO FOUND THAT THIS MISSED APCH FOR THE NDB INVOLVED TRACKING A RADIAL OFF THE GLH VOR, THUS RENDERING THE APCH UNUSABLE, SAVE ALTERNATE MISSED INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE (PART 121 CARRIER) CANNOT USE. WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH, AND GOT THE FIELD VISUALLY AT THE SAME TIME. WE ELECTED TO FLY THE COURSE REVERSAL, THEN LANDED VISUALLY. FACTORS: 1) THE INFO THAT THE VOR WAS OTS NEEDS TO BE FORWARDED TO CREWS IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE INFO UNTIL 5 MINS PRIOR TO DEP, WHICH DID NOT ALLOW US TIME TO ANALYZE THE INFO. 2) IF COMPONENTS ARE OUT WHICH DISABLE ALL APCHS AT AN AIRFIELD, WHILE LEAVING SOME COMPONENTS INTACT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF A NOTAM POINTED OUT THE AIRFIELD WAS VISUAL APCHS ONLY. 3) IF A NAV COMPONENT IS REQUIRED FOR AN APCH, IT SHOULD BE MARKED ON THE PLATE (LIKE ADF REQUIRED) OR THE APCH SHOULD BE NAMED 'NDB/VOR RWY 36L' ETC. WE MISSED IT BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE DETAILS OF THE MISS, NOT WHERE ONE LOOKS DURING PREFLT.

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.