Cleared for the expressway visual to runway 31 at lga an air carrier flight crew was unable to make ...

Attributes
ACN	840566
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	LGA.Airport
State Reference	NY
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Large Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50 Flight Crew Total 10000 Flight Crew Type 1600
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

Narrative:

A thorough approach review and briefing was accomplished for the expressway visual runway 31. Neither my copilot nor I had shot this approach in recent years; especially at night; so we took extra time to review each nuance. We were fully configured and checklists completed by dials on the approach. As we were proceeding on the approach; we were both looking in earnest to locate the runway. Without visual contact with the runway; I continued to follow FMC guidance until I could visually confirm the runway. The FMC guidance appeared to have a slight map shift as it directed a tighter turn to final. Again; with lack of familiarity with the airport and this specific approach; we dutifully followed the instrument guidance provided. When we could finally ascertain the location of the runway; it was apparent we were high. We initiated a go-around and returned for another expressway visual approach to runway 31 without event. With the extreme difficulty of locating the runway on this approach with the multitudes of lights in the vicinity; I highly recommend that lga install alsfs on runway 31 to better delineate the runway environment.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Cleared for the expressway visual to Runway 31 at LGA an air carrier flight crew was unable to make contact with the runway soon enough to make a timely; stabilized descent and landing.

Narrative: A thorough approach review and briefing was accomplished for the Expressway Visual Runway 31. Neither my Copilot nor I had shot this approach in recent years; especially at night; so we took extra time to review each nuance. We were fully configured and checklists completed by DIALS on the approach. As we were proceeding on the approach; we were both looking in earnest to locate the runway. Without visual contact with the runway; I continued to follow FMC guidance until I could visually confirm the runway. The FMC guidance appeared to have a slight map shift as it directed a tighter turn to final. Again; with lack of familiarity with the airport and this specific approach; we dutifully followed the instrument guidance provided. When we could finally ascertain the location of the runway; it was apparent we were high. We initiated a go-around and returned for another Expressway Visual approach to Runway 31 without event. With the extreme difficulty of locating the runway on this approach with the multitudes of lights in the vicinity; I highly recommend that LGA install ALSFs on Runway 31 to better delineate the runway environment.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Cleared for the expressway visual to runway 31 at lga an air carrier flight crew was unable to make contact with the runway soon enough to make a timely; stabilized descent and landing.