 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Pit approach controller expressed concern regarding not authority/authorized status of VOR runway 5 approach to agc.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 715731 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200610 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | navaid : agc.vor |
| State Reference | PA |
| Altitude | msl single value : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : pit.tracon |
| Operator | Other |
| Make Model Name | PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Flight Plan | VFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Qualification | controller : radar |
| Experience | controller radar : 18 controller time certified in position1 : 10 |
| ASRS Report | 715731 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : published procedure non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | other controllera |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA Flight Crew Human Performance Airport |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : pit.tracon |
Narrative:
The VOR runway 5 approach to agc has been not authority/authorized for some time now. The main reason is the closure of runway 5/23 at agc airport and limitations on the agc VOR. The approach is the only VOR approach available in the local area due to various reasons. It is used for flight training and by the FSDO based on or near agc for check rides. Today; a PA31 who was obviously practicing for a FAA 135 check asked to do the VOR runway 5 approach. We stated it was not authority/authorized as per our information display system. The pilot stated there was no NOTAM to that effect and elected to do the approach VFR. We didn't clear him for it; but I think the discussion about if we could or couldn't was a distraction for the whole radar room. Anyway; the pilot executed the approach VFR. I don't think that was a safe operation for many reasons. We really don't know why it is out. There could be a new obstruction. I have seen that in the past. This is a problem in many ways. While it is the pilot's responsibility to obtain all the NOTAMS; there are several approachs in the area which are not authority/authorized (VOR runway 5 agc; RNAV 'GPS' runway 5 agc; VOR-a fwq; and VOR-B afj). All are still published in the tpp. This creates a distraction for the controller by trying to explain why they are still out and were not contained or missed by the pilot in the duats or AFSS briefings. These problems can be fixed very easily. Change the VOR runway 5 approach to agc to a VOR-a; B; C or something. An even better solution is to make it have a GPS overlay until the VOR radials are fixed. This will be available for training and will allow for the use of it when WX permits to decrease workload of 'ds' and 'as' at pit with GPS equipped aircraft. It will also reduce delays to both agc and pit. Please help us take some action on this subject. Management at both pit and agc towers along with agc airport management does not seem to see the need to keep this approach or get it fixed quickly. It is greatly needed by pilots and controllers alike.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PIT APCH CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING NOT AUTH STATUS OF VOR RWY 5 APCH TO AGC.
Narrative: THE VOR RWY 5 APCH TO AGC HAS BEEN NOT AUTH FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE MAIN REASON IS THE CLOSURE OF RWY 5/23 AT AGC ARPT AND LIMITATIONS ON THE AGC VOR. THE APCH IS THE ONLY VOR APCH AVAILABLE IN THE LCL AREA DUE TO VARIOUS REASONS. IT IS USED FOR FLT TRAINING AND BY THE FSDO BASED ON OR NEAR AGC FOR CHK RIDES. TODAY; A PA31 WHO WAS OBVIOUSLY PRACTICING FOR A FAA 135 CHK ASKED TO DO THE VOR RWY 5 APCH. WE STATED IT WAS NOT AUTH AS PER OUR INFO DISPLAY SYS. THE PLT STATED THERE WAS NO NOTAM TO THAT EFFECT AND ELECTED TO DO THE APCH VFR. WE DIDN'T CLR HIM FOR IT; BUT I THINK THE DISCUSSION ABOUT IF WE COULD OR COULDN'T WAS A DISTR FOR THE WHOLE RADAR ROOM. ANYWAY; THE PLT EXECUTED THE APCH VFR. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A SAFE OP FOR MANY REASONS. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS OUT. THERE COULD BE A NEW OBSTRUCTION. I HAVE SEEN THAT IN THE PAST. THIS IS A PROB IN MANY WAYS. WHILE IT IS THE PLT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN ALL THE NOTAMS; THERE ARE SEVERAL APCHS IN THE AREA WHICH ARE NOT AUTH (VOR RWY 5 AGC; RNAV 'GPS' RWY 5 AGC; VOR-A FWQ; AND VOR-B AFJ). ALL ARE STILL PUBLISHED IN THE TPP. THIS CREATES A DISTR FOR THE CTLR BY TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE STILL OUT AND WERE NOT CONTAINED OR MISSED BY THE PLT IN THE DUATS OR AFSS BRIEFINGS. THESE PROBS CAN BE FIXED VERY EASILY. CHANGE THE VOR RWY 5 APCH TO AGC TO A VOR-A; B; C OR SOMETHING. AN EVEN BETTER SOLUTION IS TO MAKE IT HAVE A GPS OVERLAY UNTIL THE VOR RADIALS ARE FIXED. THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING AND WILL ALLOW FOR THE USE OF IT WHEN WX PERMITS TO DECREASE WORKLOAD OF 'DS' AND 'AS' AT PIT WITH GPS EQUIPPED ACFT. IT WILL ALSO REDUCE DELAYS TO BOTH AGC AND PIT. PLEASE HELP US TAKE SOME ACTION ON THIS SUBJECT. MGMNT AT BOTH PIT AND AGC TWRS ALONG WITH AGC ARPT MGMNT DOES NOT SEEM TO SEE THE NEED TO KEEP THIS APCH OR GET IT FIXED QUICKLY. IT IS GREATLY NEEDED BY PLTS AND CTLRS ALIKE.
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.