XNA instrument approaches
 

Are they all notam out, and if so anyone know why?

They built a new runway (34), and decommissioned the old one (35).

They are installing an ILS for 34, but it's not up yet so only non-precision approaches are available.

Yes, it's a problem and yes you might have to divert. Tailwinds can compound the problem.

I'm hoping to not go back there until the ILS works.

They picked a great time of year to NOTAM a bunch of approaches out of service!:p

Anyone know why they built the new runway?

I don't know all the details, but basically since they only had 1 runway and it needed to be redone, they built an "alternate landing surface" parallel to the original runway. Somehow on the redo of the original runway something wasn't done to spec and it sat several years unused while they sorted all that out. I guess now the redone runway will finally be opened?

Incorrect. The ILS 34 is in operation.

I don't know if it was planned this way - but from my understanding, the *new* parallel runway was built to close to the original runway and they will be using the *old* runway as a parallel surface as a taxiway.

This could be an old wive's tale :confused:

I don't think XNA is big enough to warrant parallel runways. I think the previous post about needing a new runway was more accurate. It may have something to do with a minimum distance needed between the runway and the parallel taxiway. I know a few airports that had to move the runway further from the taxiway.

The whole airport was shut down yesterday due to errors on instrument approaches and no runway lights.

That's not true at all. The airline I work for operated all of its flights there yesterday.