Narrative:

Throughout the evening the runway 9R ALS indicated in failure status. This was the only CAT III approach available; which is what the WX conditions required. No aircraft could land; so they were vectored all over in hopes that lights would return. When I left the tower; phl was advertising as the only approach 'ILS runway 9R approach in use. Runway 9R approach lights OTS.' this has been an ongoing problem that causes many; many problems for the users as well as controllers.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PHL TRACON CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE REPORTED ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THE APCH LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR RWY 9R.

Narrative: THROUGHOUT THE EVENING THE RWY 9R ALS INDICATED IN FAILURE STATUS. THIS WAS THE ONLY CAT III APCH AVAILABLE; WHICH IS WHAT THE WX CONDITIONS REQUIRED. NO ACFT COULD LAND; SO THEY WERE VECTORED ALL OVER IN HOPES THAT LIGHTS WOULD RETURN. WHEN I LEFT THE TWR; PHL WAS ADVERTISING AS THE ONLY APCH 'ILS RWY 9R APCH IN USE. RWY 9R APCH LIGHTS OTS.' THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROB THAT CAUSES MANY; MANY PROBS FOR THE USERS AS WELL AS CTLRS.

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.