Narrative:

Jfk ATIS shows VOR approachs to runway 13L&right with runway 13R ldin OTS and runway 13L ALS OTS. The VOR runway 13L plate depicts the last segment of lead-INS to include the ALS and prohibits this approach without ldin's. Nevertheless; approach controller issued vectors for the VOR runway 13L. We refused the approach and flew the VOR to runway 22L instead. I talked to the tower supervisor after arrival. He told me that they are not provided commercial charts and thus are not aware of the approach limitations. Flying this approach without the approach lighting system operational appears to be illegal. I have no doubt that our crews; along with all other companies; have been accepting and flying the VOR runway 13L with the ALS OTS. Kudos to first officer for bringing this to my attention.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 CREW RPTS BEING CLRED FOR VOR RWY 13L AT JFK WITH REQUIRED COMPONENTS OF THE ALS OTS.

Narrative: JFK ATIS SHOWS VOR APCHS TO RWY 13L&R WITH RWY 13R LDIN OTS AND RWY 13L ALS OTS. THE VOR RWY 13L PLATE DEPICTS THE LAST SEGMENT OF LEAD-INS TO INCLUDE THE ALS AND PROHIBITS THIS APCH WITHOUT LDIN'S. NEVERTHELESS; APCH CTLR ISSUED VECTORS FOR THE VOR RWY 13L. WE REFUSED THE APCH AND FLEW THE VOR TO RWY 22L INSTEAD. I TALKED TO THE TWR SUPVR AFTER ARR. HE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT PROVIDED COMMERCIAL CHARTS AND THUS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE APCH LIMITATIONS. FLYING THIS APCH WITHOUT THE APCH LIGHTING SYS OPERATIONAL APPEARS TO BE ILLEGAL. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT OUR CREWS; ALONG WITH ALL OTHER COMPANIES; HAVE BEEN ACCEPTING AND FLYING THE VOR RWY 13L WITH THE ALS OTS. KUDOS TO FO FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTN.

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.