Narrative:

This report discusses a persistent situation at burley; identification (byi) which caused an otherwise unnecessary missed approach. Within the month previous to this event; a new potato processing plant began operation at the north end of runway 20. Smoke/steam stacks from this plant are located approximately one-fourth mile from; and directly in line with the final approach path to runway 20. During the several days previous to our flight had arrived at byi in VMC. Often; runway 20 is the preferred and practical calm wind runway; and on several of those days; the potato plant was sending a white steam/smoke cloud directly into the short final approach path. This white cloud would go straight up from the stacks; completely blocking the view of the runway threshold. One day; for example; I was flying the aircraft and had to purposely approach the runway end from about a 20 degree angle off the extended centerline just to keep the threshold in sight. A slight turn was performed just prior to flare to align the aircraft with the runway.the true severity of this problem became apparent on our last flight. Conditions were IMC. The byi VOR; located on the field at kbyi; had been out of service for several months. Thus; the only instrument approach available at is the RNAV (GPS) runway 20 approach. Weather was reported as 400 overcast; visibility 2.5 miles. The MDA and visibility [at] minimum for the GPS runway 20 are 4;560 [400 AGL] and one mile. With the first officer as pilot flying; we shot the GPS approach uneventfully until reaching the MDA. We had just broken through the cloud deck and had some ground contact in very hazy conditions. However; our view of the runway threshold was completely obscured by the smoke/steam coming from the potato plant stacks; effectively creating a cloud and zero visibility conditions between ourselves and the runway end. I just saw the one of the reils flashing through cloud; and had no view of any other part of the runway or its markings. Accordingly; I instructed the first officer to execute a missed approach. After that; our only alternative was to shoot the approach again; and hope that some change in conditions might be present on our next try that would give us enough of a view of the runway to land. Though conditions on the second try were virtually identical; this time we could barely make out some runway markings and pavement through the cloud emanating from the stacks and it allowed us to land.clearly; someone did not consider the consequences of putting these smoke/steam stacks exactly in the approach path of the most-used runway at byi. Though the stacks themselves are not high enough to penetrate the approach path to the runway; the smoke/steam they expel couldn't create a better artificial cloud in the worst possible place. Even after the byi VOR is back in service; the two additional VOR approaches that it will make available are circling approaches only; and have mdas 100 ft higher than the straight-in MDA of the GPS approach. Given the same conditions that existed previously; those approaches would not have enabled us to get in. It is unclear to me what can be done about this condition; but it is a real problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Smoke and/or steam from a newly constructed processing plant on short final to Runway 20 at BYI obscures the REILs and runway at a critical point of the primary approach to the airport; leading to a go-around.

Narrative: This report discusses a persistent situation at Burley; ID (BYI) which caused an otherwise unnecessary missed approach. Within the month previous to this event; a new potato processing plant began operation at the north end of Runway 20. Smoke/steam stacks from this plant are located approximately one-fourth mile from; and directly in line with the final approach path to Runway 20. During the several days previous to our flight had arrived at BYI in VMC. Often; Runway 20 is the preferred and practical calm wind runway; and on several of those days; the potato plant was sending a white steam/smoke cloud directly into the short final approach path. This white cloud would go straight up from the stacks; completely blocking the view of the runway threshold. One day; for example; I was flying the aircraft and had to purposely approach the runway end from about a 20 degree angle off the extended centerline just to keep the threshold in sight. A slight turn was performed just prior to flare to align the aircraft with the runway.The true severity of this problem became apparent on our last flight. Conditions were IMC. The BYI VOR; located on the field at KBYI; had been out of service for several months. Thus; the only instrument approach available at is the RNAV (GPS) Runway 20 approach. Weather was reported as 400 overcast; visibility 2.5 miles. The MDA and visibility [at] minimum for the GPS Runway 20 are 4;560 [400 AGL] and one mile. With the First Officer as pilot flying; we shot the GPS approach uneventfully until reaching the MDA. We had just broken through the cloud deck and had some ground contact in very hazy conditions. However; our view of the runway threshold was completely obscured by the smoke/steam coming from the potato plant stacks; effectively creating a cloud and zero visibility conditions between ourselves and the runway end. I just saw the one of the REILs flashing through cloud; and had no view of any other part of the runway or its markings. Accordingly; I instructed the First Officer to execute a missed approach. After that; our only alternative was to shoot the approach again; and hope that some change in conditions might be present on our next try that would give us enough of a view of the runway to land. Though conditions on the second try were virtually identical; this time we could barely make out some runway markings and pavement through the cloud emanating from the stacks and it allowed us to land.Clearly; someone did not consider the consequences of putting these smoke/steam stacks exactly in the approach path of the most-used runway at BYI. Though the stacks themselves are not high enough to penetrate the approach path to the runway; the smoke/steam they expel couldn't create a better artificial cloud in the worst possible place. Even after the BYI VOR is back in service; the two additional VOR approaches that it will make available are circling approaches only; and have MDAs 100 FT higher than the straight-in MDA of the GPS approach. Given the same conditions that existed previously; those approaches would not have enabled us to get in. It is unclear to me what can be done about this condition; but it is a real problem.

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.