Narrative:

Problem: scheduled air carrier flew ILS 3R at dtw at XB10 local time (night) west/O ever being told the approach lighting system (ALS) for runway 3R was OTS. How the problem arose: the flight arrived at the tripe inbound fix to dtw at approximately XA40 local time 2/88 at 7000'. We were handed off to metropolitan approach (frequency 125.15). When we contacted metropolitan approach, we advised that we had the current ATIS, which advised that dtw was VFR with light winds. The active apches were ILS/visual 21L and 21R. There was no mention on the ATIS of the condition of the 3R ALS. We were advised by metropolitan approach to expect vectors to ILS 21L. We were vectored to the radar downwind, which is the normal transition to final approach at dtw. Approximately 5 mi east of robbi intersection (reference dtw ILS 21L), we were advised, 'turn right, heading 240 degrees, vectors ILS 3R.' the wind at metropolitan was now out of the northwest, gusting as high as 33 KTS, and dtw had gone IFR. No mention was given to the fact that the 3R ALS was inoperative. Vectors to final approach, ILS 3R, were uneventful, except that no mention of ALS 3R was ever made. At huron (reference dtw ILS 3R) we were handed off to metropolitan tower (frequency 118.4). Were 'cleared to land 3R, traffic on short final.' again no mention of 3R ALS. Visual contact with the runway was established at approximately 600' AGL (400' above minimums) on G/south. A successful landing was accomplished west/O incident. We informed tower of the inoperative ALS. She said it had been notamed OTS for almost 2 months. Attached is a copy of the latest dtw NOTAMS I had received from company fdc and local NOTAMS. Notice there is no mention of the 3R ALS or the associated increase in RVR requirements.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ALS OUT OF SERVICE AN NO NOTAM FOUND BY FLT CREW NOR ADVICE GIVEN ON APCH ATIS OR TWR.

Narrative: PROB: SCHEDULED ACR FLEW ILS 3R AT DTW AT XB10 LCL TIME (NIGHT) W/O EVER BEING TOLD THE APCH LIGHTING SYS (ALS) FOR RWY 3R WAS OTS. HOW THE PROB AROSE: THE FLT ARRIVED AT THE TRIPE INBND FIX TO DTW AT APPROX XA40 LCL TIME 2/88 AT 7000'. WE WERE HANDED OFF TO METRO APCH (FREQ 125.15). WHEN WE CONTACTED METRO APCH, WE ADVISED THAT WE HAD THE CURRENT ATIS, WHICH ADVISED THAT DTW WAS VFR WITH LIGHT WINDS. THE ACTIVE APCHES WERE ILS/VISUAL 21L AND 21R. THERE WAS NO MENTION ON THE ATIS OF THE CONDITION OF THE 3R ALS. WE WERE ADVISED BY METRO APCH TO EXPECT VECTORS TO ILS 21L. WE WERE VECTORED TO THE RADAR DOWNWIND, WHICH IS THE NORMAL TRANSITION TO FINAL APCH AT DTW. APPROX 5 MI E OF ROBBI INTXN (REF DTW ILS 21L), WE WERE ADVISED, 'TURN RIGHT, HDG 240 DEGS, VECTORS ILS 3R.' THE WIND AT METRO WAS NOW OUT OF THE NW, GUSTING AS HIGH AS 33 KTS, AND DTW HAD GONE IFR. NO MENTION WAS GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT THE 3R ALS WAS INOP. VECTORS TO FINAL APCH, ILS 3R, WERE UNEVENTFUL, EXCEPT THAT NO MENTION OF ALS 3R WAS EVER MADE. AT HURON (REF DTW ILS 3R) WE WERE HANDED OFF TO METRO TWR (FREQ 118.4). WERE 'CLRED TO LAND 3R, TFC ON SHORT FINAL.' AGAIN NO MENTION OF 3R ALS. VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE RWY WAS ESTABLISHED AT APPROX 600' AGL (400' ABOVE MINIMUMS) ON G/S. A SUCCESSFUL LNDG WAS ACCOMPLISHED W/O INCIDENT. WE INFORMED TWR OF THE INOP ALS. SHE SAID IT HAD BEEN NOTAMED OTS FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS. ATTACHED IS A COPY OF THE LATEST DTW NOTAMS I HAD RECEIVED FROM COMPANY FDC AND LCL NOTAMS. NOTICE THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE 3R ALS OR THE ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN RVR REQUIREMENTS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.