Narrative:

Due to the jac VOR being OTS, the following remarks have been added to ord-jac flight plans: 'jac VOR OTS missed approach procedure in chart for runway 18 requires use of the VOR. Flight department authority/authorized to use missed approach procedure in the FMC instead of the published procedure in chart page 11-1 for ILS runway 18.' I believe this is in direct conflict with training and procedures stressed by flight academy, and a possible violation of FARS. While these remarks may be appropriate for VMC and visual approachs, I believe they are not prudent for night or IMC operations. As a side note, all of jac day only visual rules are also predicated on the jac VOR, thereby rendering this a strictly visual operation when the jac VOR is not available, ie, must take off and land visually with no reference to NAVAID. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter indicated that both pilots were asked if they would make the approach under the condition of the VOR being OTS. They both refused and in later correspondence, the company supported their decision. VOR is no longer OTS and the reporter has not been into jac since. He also indicated that the company was going to investigate procedures to deal with any future OTS problems, such as using another VOR in the area. The company appeared to be apologetic for suggesting the use of the FMC only.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 PLT QUESTIONS THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE COMPANY POLICY TO USE AN FMC BASED MISSED APCH PROC WHEN THE VOR USED NORMALLY IS OTS.

Narrative: DUE TO THE JAC VOR BEING OTS, THE FOLLOWING REMARKS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO ORD-JAC FLT PLANS: 'JAC VOR OTS MISSED APCH PROC IN CHART FOR RWY 18 REQUIRES USE OF THE VOR. FLT DEPT AUTH TO USE MISSED APCH PROC IN THE FMC INSTEAD OF THE PUBLISHED PROC IN CHART PAGE 11-1 FOR ILS RWY 18.' I BELIEVE THIS IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH TRAINING AND PROCS STRESSED BY FLT ACADEMY, AND A POSSIBLE VIOLATION OF FARS. WHILE THESE REMARKS MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR VMC AND VISUAL APCHS, I BELIEVE THEY ARE NOT PRUDENT FOR NIGHT OR IMC OPS. AS A SIDE NOTE, ALL OF JAC DAY ONLY VISUAL RULES ARE ALSO PREDICATED ON THE JAC VOR, THEREBY RENDERING THIS A STRICTLY VISUAL OP WHEN THE JAC VOR IS NOT AVAILABLE, IE, MUST TAKE OFF AND LAND VISUALLY WITH NO REF TO NAVAID. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR INDICATED THAT BOTH PLTS WERE ASKED IF THEY WOULD MAKE THE APCH UNDER THE CONDITION OF THE VOR BEING OTS. THEY BOTH REFUSED AND IN LATER CORRESPONDENCE, THE COMPANY SUPPORTED THEIR DECISION. VOR IS NO LONGER OTS AND THE RPTR HAS NOT BEEN INTO JAC SINCE. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE COMPANY WAS GOING TO INVESTIGATE PROCS TO DEAL WITH ANY FUTURE OTS PROBS, SUCH AS USING ANOTHER VOR IN THE AREA. THE COMPANY APPEARED TO BE APOLOGETIC FOR SUGGESTING THE USE OF THE FMC ONLY.

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.