An air carrier pilot reports the phl runway 35 VASI is inoperative.

Attributes
ACN	645035
Time
Date	200501
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phl.tower tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 11000
ASRS Report	645035
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

Phl runway 35. VASI has been out of service for an extremely lengthy period. I have personally been flying to and from phl quite frequently; landing on runway 35 periodically over the past few months. Approximately 3 months ago; I queried the tower via the radio if the VASI runway 35 was operating. I received a reply that it was not; and it was unknown if and when it was to be repaired. The runway is continually being utilized by part 121 air carriers and the VASI provides the sole source of vertical guidance. It is a safety of flight item; and the FAA needs to investigate this lengthy repair delay.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR PLT RPTS THE PHL RWY 35 VASI IS INOP.

Narrative: PHL RWY 35. VASI HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR AN EXTREMELY LENGTHY PERIOD. I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN FLYING TO AND FROM PHL QUITE FREQUENTLY; LNDG ON RWY 35 PERIODICALLY OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. APPROX 3 MONTHS AGO; I QUERIED THE TWR VIA THE RADIO IF THE VASI RWY 35 WAS OPERATING. I RECEIVED A REPLY THAT IT WAS NOT; AND IT WAS UNKNOWN IF AND WHEN IT WAS TO BE REPAIRED. THE RWY IS CONTINUALLY BEING UTILIZED BY PART 121 AIR CARRIERS AND THE VASI PROVIDES THE SOLE SOURCE OF VERT GUIDANCE. IT IS A SAFETY OF FLT ITEM; AND THE FAA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS LENGTHY REPAIR DELAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.