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MEM VOR outage, missed approaches, and so forth

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Old 11-12-2008 | 01:54 PM
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Question MEM VOR outage, missed approaches, and so forth

The MEM VOR has been OTS for the last few days for some unknown reason, and an interesting phone call came from one of our usual customers. Apparently the pilot stated that he could not accept a clearance from XYZ airport to MEM due to the fact that a PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE would be unavailable or unusable due to the MEM VOR being OTS.

This presented quite the debate at work, and there was much discussion about LOST COMM INSTRUCTIONS, and the TRACON Controllers were supposedly issuing lost comm instructions to each aircraft during the noon inbound.

What say ye humble pilots?

Is the MEM VOR required for you glass-cockpit types? Or would this have been more of an issue for the B727 drivers? Is there an FAR that might address this issue?

Thanks,

MEM_ATC
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Old 11-12-2008 | 02:12 PM
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My "glass cockpit" MD-11 will find MEM just fine whether the VOR is operational or not. As to accepting an approach which assumes that the VOR is operational for the missed approach procedure, that's probably not in accordance with the FAR's.
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Old 11-12-2008 | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by MEM_ATC
The MEM VOR has been OTS for the last few days for some unknown reason, and an interesting phone call came from one of our usual customers. Apparently the pilot stated that he could not accept a clearance from XYZ airport to MEM due to the fact that a PUBLISHED MISSED APPROACH PROCEDURE would be unavailable or unusable due to the MEM VOR being OTS.

This presented quite the debate at work, and there was much discussion about LOST COMM INSTRUCTIONS, and the TRACON Controllers were supposedly issuing lost comm instructions to each aircraft during the noon inbound.

What say ye humble pilots?

Is the MEM VOR required for you glass-cockpit types? Or would this have been more of an issue for the B727 drivers? Is there an FAR that might address this issue?

Thanks,

MEM_ATC
Hello MEM, the easiest thing to do would be to issue a temporary notam with alternate missed approach instructions for "steam-gauge" aircraft while the VOR is out of service.
cheers,
fbh
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Old 11-12-2008 | 02:47 PM
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If it helps, there is no published miss on a visual approach....
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:15 PM
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The NOTAMS were out last night at least for all of the alternate missed approaches. Interestingly, all of the LIDOs already have those points, some even listed as alternate holding points. Made me wonder if the long term plan was to decommission MEM VOR.
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:22 PM
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Originally Posted by MX727
The NOTAMS were out last night at least for all of the alternate missed approaches. Interestingly, all of the LIDOs already have those points, some even listed as alternate holding points. Made me wonder if the long term plan was to decommission MEM VOR.
Similar situation/NOTAM for AFW - due to ELD VORTAC out - procedure is still valid for RNAV with GPS......

ID: 10/281

14 Oct 12:32 2008 Last Modification

!USD 10/281 AFW AIRSPACE WYLIE FIVE DEPARTURE ELDORADO, SIDON AND MERIDIAN TRANSITIONS: DALLAS EIGHT DEPARTURE ELDORADO, SIDON AND MERIDIAN TRANSITIONS:
NA EXCEPT FOR AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH SUITABLE RNAV SYSTEM WITH GPS, ELD VORTAC OTS.
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by MX727
The NOTAMS were out last night at least for all of the alternate missed approaches. Interestingly, all of the LIDOs already have those points, some even listed as alternate holding points. Made me wonder if the long term plan was to decommission MEM VOR.

As part of the GPS update to the ATC system ... I believe all NDB's and VOR's are scheduled to be taken out of service as a cost savings measure (and part of the GPS system cost justification).
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:32 PM
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"Runway heading, 1800ft" was my brief all weekend!
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:46 PM
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Yet another reason to bid Indy & Sewark.
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Old 11-12-2008 | 03:48 PM
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You only need the primary navaid operational to take the approach with the Mad Dog FMS, therefore with the ILS the VOR is only nice to have. We have no VOR approach into MEM so it is there only for the 727 anyway.
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