B737 Flight Crew is informed during a CAT II ILS approach that the approach light system is out of service. Approach is continued and runway lights are acquired prior to minimums.
Synopsis
B737 Flight Crew is informed during a CAT II ILS approach that the approach light system is out of service. Approach is continued and runway lights are acquired prior to minimums.
Narrative
Weather was bad at TPA and with 100 foot ceilings reported. We were number 3 being vectored for the ILS Runway 18L. The first aircraft had gone missed approach and it seemed as though the Controller was unsure of that aircraft's intentions. Number 2 was another carrier ahead of us that ATC broke off the approach and gave them vectors back around (possibly due to the aircraft ahead). We were told to fly 180 to the FAF and had just been vectored across final and given a reintercept heading from the east side of the LOC course. We were then told that the approach lights for Runway 18L were inoperative. The current ATIS did not reflect that nor did the NOTAMS that we had for the field. The Captain elected to hand fly the aircraft with the HUD for the CAT II approach into Runway 18L. The approach was flown to near minimums with runway lighting acquisition and an uneventful landing. I think that the Approach Controllers should have been more proactive as to the lack of available instrument lighting for the approach to that runway. We were not informed until after the approach had already begun as to any failure of airport equipment. CAT II approaches are flown so infrequently that maybe further training as to required equipment would be helpful.
Second reporter narrative
The Pilot Monitoring and I set up for a Runway 18L CAT II Approach since fog and visibility were issues at TPA. We were vectored across the ILS 18L localizer from west to east due to another aircraft performing a missed approach. Another carrier aircraft was supposed to be next for 18L; but was vectored off for the first aircraft on the missed. TPA Approach Control was not 100% sure what the missed approach aircraft was going to do next. We made a right turn to intercept final (about a 220 heading) and were cleared for the approach. We were then informed that the Approach Lighting System (ALS) for 18L was Out of Service (OTS). Latest NOTAMS and ATIS did not reflect that the ALS was OTS at this time. Visibility was up and down throughout the approach. Last known RVR was 2600'. We were also told to fly 180 knots or greater until COSME (FAF). I elected to continue a hand flown approach with HUD for the CAT II minimums; and acquired the runway environment prior to minimums for an uneventful landing and rollout.First and foremost; if workload gets high; go around; and talk about it. ATC should have been a little more proactive with RVR and ALS OTS information. We did not get this information until after cleared for the approach. Know the CAT II requirements. This was my first CAT II approach.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.