Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 10; Flight Crew Total 18000; Flight Crew Type 11000
Other / Unknown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
General None Reported / Taken
Airport; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Just reporting the PAPI lights for Runway X are out of service in ZZZZ. Due to the low visibility in rain showers; at night; we chose to land on Runway YY with a slight tailwind; with operable PAPI lights; only because we were in an empty type X Aircraft. If we were in a heavy type Y Aircraft we would be forced to use Runway X with no PAPI lights at night in the weather. Especially due to COVID; pilots are not as proficient flying; we should have all resources available to conduct a safe operation. And just because ZZZZ airport has so few flights (we were the first flight in 2 months); does not mean they can allow those items to slide.
Air carrier Captain reported non functional PAPI lights at airport for a specific runway and the safety hazards it could pose in weather conditions; especially when crews are not flying as often due to the COVID-19 pandemic.