Narrative:

Our next leg was mli to balance, and we added an alternate to our flight release as well. The NOTAMS called for the ILS brl as being OTS (ILS 36), however there was the NDB 36. We departed mli at XX30 local for brl, and once we had been handed of by military departure radar to ZAU, center advised us that an aircraft ahead of us could not identify or receive the NDB. Center advised us and asked us to identify the NDB, which we could not. Center then asked us of our intentions and gave us the latest WX report. We then checked the 2 other approachs--VOR DME 12 and VOR 30. Because of the wind direction VOR DME 12 was preferred (wind 0709). We had the visibility requirements to do the approach as well. I also checked the NOTAMS and it stated for that runway (brl...VOR/DME runway 12 amdt 3...procedure na). We interpreted this as restr at night only and not during the day. At this point the center controller vectored us for the approach and we were cleared for the approach. The WX ceiling was between 400-500' overcast and we did not get runway contact, so we went missed approach. We then proceeded back to mli and landed. The problem here is how the NOTAM should be interpreted. Does it mean the approach cannot be used at all or cannot be used at night only? Or does it mean that amend 3 is not applicable only. After returning to ord I asked several management pilots and got several different answers. From bad working to no you cannot land there at all (from that approach) to yes you can do the approach during daylight hours. I feel that if the wording amend 3 had not been in the NOTAMS it would have been clear that the approach was not permissible. However, since amend 3 stated (VOR deleted,night restriction) I interpreted this as meaning the approach could be done during the daylight.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF LTT MADE VOR DME 12 APCH AT BRL, NOTAMED PROC NA, BUT REPORTER STATES AN ARPT PAGE NOTE (VOP DELETED, NIGHT RESTRICTION) CONFUSED HIM INTO BELIEVING HE WAS LEGAL FOR AN APCH.

Narrative: OUR NEXT LEG WAS MLI TO BAL, AND WE ADDED AN ALTERNATE TO OUR FLT RELEASE AS WELL. THE NOTAMS CALLED FOR THE ILS BRL AS BEING OTS (ILS 36), HOWEVER THERE WAS THE NDB 36. WE DEPARTED MLI AT XX30 LCL FOR BRL, AND ONCE WE HAD BEEN HANDED OF BY MIL DEP RADAR TO ZAU, CENTER ADVISED US THAT AN ACFT AHEAD OF US COULD NOT IDENT OR RECEIVE THE NDB. CENTER ADVISED US AND ASKED US TO IDENT THE NDB, WHICH WE COULD NOT. CENTER THEN ASKED US OF OUR INTENTIONS AND GAVE US THE LATEST WX RPT. WE THEN CHKED THE 2 OTHER APCHS--VOR DME 12 AND VOR 30. BECAUSE OF THE WIND DIRECTION VOR DME 12 WAS PREFERRED (WIND 0709). WE HAD THE VISIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO DO THE APCH AS WELL. I ALSO CHKED THE NOTAMS AND IT STATED FOR THAT RWY (BRL...VOR/DME RWY 12 AMDT 3...PROC NA). WE INTERPRETED THIS AS RESTR AT NIGHT ONLY AND NOT DURING THE DAY. AT THIS POINT THE CENTER CTLR VECTORED US FOR THE APCH AND WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH. THE WX CEILING WAS BTWN 400-500' OVCST AND WE DID NOT GET RWY CONTACT, SO WE WENT MISSED APCH. WE THEN PROCEEDED BACK TO MLI AND LANDED. THE PROB HERE IS HOW THE NOTAM SHOULD BE INTERPRETED. DOES IT MEAN THE APCH CANNOT BE USED AT ALL OR CANNOT BE USED AT NIGHT ONLY? OR DOES IT MEAN THAT AMEND 3 IS NOT APPLICABLE ONLY. AFTER RETURNING TO ORD I ASKED SEVERAL MGMNT PLTS AND GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANSWERS. FROM BAD WORKING TO NO YOU CANNOT LAND THERE AT ALL (FROM THAT APCH) TO YES YOU CAN DO THE APCH DURING DAYLIGHT HRS. I FEEL THAT IF THE WORDING AMEND 3 HAD NOT BEEN IN THE NOTAMS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR THAT THE APCH WAS NOT PERMISSIBLE. HOWEVER, SINCE AMEND 3 STATED (VOR DELETED,NIGHT RESTRICTION) I INTERPRETED THIS AS MEANING THE APCH COULD BE DONE DURING THE DAYLIGHT.

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