Grr controller expressed concern regarding the long term VOR limitation that results in limited runw...

Attributes
ACN	724821
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : grr.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	agl single value : 800
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Windshear Snow Ice
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : grr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : foreign
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : radar
Experience	controller radar : 17 controller time certified in position1 : 5 controller time certified in position2 : 4
ASRS Report	724821
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance FAA Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	FAA
Situations
ATC Facility	other physical facility procedure or policy : grr.tower

Narrative:

The grr VOR has been unusable beyond 11.0 DME since 10/06. Grr airport has ILS approachs to runways 26L/8R and runway 35. When the wind is strong from the south; pilots have been able to use the VOR 17 approach for a landing more aligned with the wind. Since the VOR is not usable beyond 11 DME; this approach is not available. With winter upon us now; snow and ice can contaminate a runway making a crosswind landing difficult/unsafe for pilots. With a strong south wind landing on a runway with an ILS (runway 26L/8R and runway 35) approach does not allow a pilot to have a runway with an instrument approach procedure that will align the aircraft with a favorable wind. Another option is to circle from an ILS approach to land on runway 17 when the ceiling/visibility permits. Recently during IFR WX (snow); pilots have been circling with poor visibility; low ceilings and contaminates (snow/ice) on the runway. When the visibility and/or the ceiling is too low; the pilots use a straight-in ILS approach to a runway with a strong crosswind component. A solution to this problem would be to fix the VOR and flight check the NAVAID and the approach procedure. Apparently; the roof on the VOR leaks.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GRR CTLR EXPRESSED CONCERN REGARDING THE LONG TERM VOR LIMITATION THAT RESULTS IN LIMITED RWY OPTIONS FOR THE USER.

Narrative: THE GRR VOR HAS BEEN UNUSABLE BEYOND 11.0 DME SINCE 10/06. GRR ARPT HAS ILS APCHS TO RWYS 26L/8R AND RWY 35. WHEN THE WIND IS STRONG FROM THE S; PLTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE VOR 17 APCH FOR A LNDG MORE ALIGNED WITH THE WIND. SINCE THE VOR IS NOT USABLE BEYOND 11 DME; THIS APCH IS NOT AVAILABLE. WITH WINTER UPON US NOW; SNOW AND ICE CAN CONTAMINATE A RWY MAKING A XWIND LNDG DIFFICULT/UNSAFE FOR PLTS. WITH A STRONG S WIND LNDG ON A RWY WITH AN ILS (RWY 26L/8R AND RWY 35) APCH DOES NOT ALLOW A PLT TO HAVE A RWY WITH AN INST APCH PROC THAT WILL ALIGN THE ACFT WITH A FAVORABLE WIND. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO CIRCLE FROM AN ILS APCH TO LAND ON RWY 17 WHEN THE CEILING/VISIBILITY PERMITS. RECENTLY DURING IFR WX (SNOW); PLTS HAVE BEEN CIRCLING WITH POOR VISIBILITY; LOW CEILINGS AND CONTAMINATES (SNOW/ICE) ON THE RWY. WHEN THE VISIBILITY AND/OR THE CEILING IS TOO LOW; THE PLTS USE A STRAIGHT-IN ILS APCH TO A RWY WITH A STRONG XWIND COMPONENT. A SOLUTION TO THIS PROB WOULD BE TO FIX THE VOR AND FLT CHK THE NAVAID AND THE APCH PROC. APPARENTLY; THE ROOF ON THE VOR LEAKS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.

Grr controller expressed concern regarding the long term VOR limitation that results in limited runway options for the user.