Narrative:

Flight dtw to bdl was flying the swede 1 arrival from wilet intersection. After passing swede intersection ATC assigned a heading right of course to intercept the bdl 329 degree radial (a shortcut to intercept the arrival course to bdl). The signal for the bdl VOR did not provide an identify at that time, but the CDI centered with no off flag and indicated an on course situation. We advised ATC that the bdl signal was questionable, and ATC advised we use the albany 147 degree radial for course guidance until receiving bdl. At that time a pilot from another aircraft reported that the alb vot has frequency 109.0, same as bdl VOR, and that it's customary to fly the alb radial for the arrival. The text for the swede arrival prescribes using the rockdale and bradley radials, and not albany. Yet it is common that the bdl 329 degree radial is unreliable on the portion of the arrival near albany, evidently due to interference from the alb vot. I suggest that this situation be flight tested, and an alteration to the procedure be made if necessary. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter states this same thing has happened several times going into bradley. He never knew what the cause was before. He is grateful to the other pilot who explained it to him. It doesn't seem right that one has to use a VOR behind the inbound course to get to the airport. He feels the vot frequency should be changed to enable one to receive the bdl VOR 329 degree radial as depicted on the STAR. The CDI seemed to center at first but then was wavering and not giving an accurate indication.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR ON STAR HAS DIFFICULTY RECEIVING VOR INDICATED AS INBOUND NAVAID. TOLD TO USE THE VOR BEHIND THEM.

Narrative: FLT DTW TO BDL WAS FLYING THE SWEDE 1 ARR FROM WILET INTXN. AFTER PASSING SWEDE INTXN ATC ASSIGNED A HDG R OF COURSE TO INTERCEPT THE BDL 329 DEG RADIAL (A SHORTCUT TO INTERCEPT THE ARR COURSE TO BDL). THE SIGNAL FOR THE BDL VOR DID NOT PROVIDE AN IDENT AT THAT TIME, BUT THE CDI CTRED WITH NO OFF FLAG AND INDICATED AN ON COURSE SIT. WE ADVISED ATC THAT THE BDL SIGNAL WAS QUESTIONABLE, AND ATC ADVISED WE USE THE ALBANY 147 DEG RADIAL FOR COURSE GUIDANCE UNTIL RECEIVING BDL. AT THAT TIME A PLT FROM ANOTHER ACFT RPTED THAT THE ALB VOT HAS FREQ 109.0, SAME AS BDL VOR, AND THAT IT'S CUSTOMARY TO FLY THE ALB RADIAL FOR THE ARR. THE TEXT FOR THE SWEDE ARR PRESCRIBES USING THE ROCKDALE AND BRADLEY RADIALS, AND NOT ALBANY. YET IT IS COMMON THAT THE BDL 329 DEG RADIAL IS UNRELIABLE ON THE PORTION OF THE ARR NEAR ALBANY, EVIDENTLY DUE TO INTERFERENCE FROM THE ALB VOT. I SUGGEST THAT THIS SIT BE FLT TESTED, AND AN ALTERATION TO THE PROC BE MADE IF NECESSARY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES GOING INTO BRADLEY. HE NEVER KNEW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS BEFORE. HE IS GRATEFUL TO THE OTHER PLT WHO EXPLAINED IT TO HIM. IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT THAT ONE HAS TO USE A VOR BEHIND THE INBOUND COURSE TO GET TO THE ARPT. HE FEELS THE VOT FREQ SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ENABLE ONE TO RECEIVE THE BDL VOR 329 DEG RADIAL AS DEPICTED ON THE STAR. THE CDI SEEMED TO CTR AT FIRST BUT THEN WAS WAVERING AND NOT GIVING AN ACCURATE INDICATION.

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.