Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 8000; Flight Crew Type 10
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Airport
While landing on runways at VKX at night; the PAPI on each runway (in this case; Runway 6; but Runway 24 has the same problem) is unreliable. For example; coming on Runway 6 the NOTAM says; 'DCA 03/236 VKX RWY 6 PAPI UNUSABLE 3 DEG LEFT OR RIGHT OF COURSE 1403131725-PERM.' However; there is only one light on the P2L PAPI that changes from White to Red as you get too low. The AIM says there should be two lights. Most pilots at the airport are skeptical of the PAPI; so they don't use it. This 'communal' knowledge tends to work out because the VKX airport is in the DC-FRZ; so there are few (if any) visitors to the airport. However; the NOTAM and maintenance system needs to be upgraded to better disseminate this information.
Small aircraft pilot reports that VKX NOTAM for PAPI lights references unusability beyond three degrees left or right of center; but no mention of lights being out; which there appear to be.