B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related
The main cause of this Safety Concern; is what most Pilots call 'Flying into a BLACK HOLE'. That's the best way to describe landing at Maracaibo. Lighting at this airport is marginal at best. The ILS approach has been out of service for more than 8 months. While the VOR approach is adequate; and legal; safety is reduced by not having it available. There aren't any runway center line lights. Runway edge lights are marginally dim. On one occasion I asked to have the lights turned up brighter; the response was 'UNABLE'. The PAPI is usually out of service and power outages at the airport is quite common with no back up generators. This is the scary part because the alternate airport is not much better and most of us never been there. To go and shoot an approach to a place we have never been before at NIGHT with the same issues of MAR. Then you add crews from other bases not familiar; plus language barriers in Maracaibo Control; plus new Crews coming out of IOE; you have a recipe for an incident. After landing roll out; to a turn off; is without lighting. NO taxiway edge lights. Taxi lines (painted lines) are extremely difficult to see; even with all the landing lights on. They are faded; or in some cases; nonexistent. One must be EXTREMELY careful not to put one of the main gear into the dirt. Again; taxi to the parking gate is COMPLETELY WITHOUT lighting. One must taxi with all the aircraft lighting on. There are NO lights around the terminal buildings to assist with ambient lighting. I must say as a PLUS; the persons marshaling the aircraft always have well lighted wands; but that's all one will see; until close in; then you will see people.I've been asked on enough occasions; that it has become standard practice; to leave the runway turn-off lights; and the wing scan lights ON to assist with disembarking; boarding; and servicing of the aircraft. I must say that the ground servicing personnel are well SKILLED. YES; (simply put) they know what they are doing. I am VERY PLEASED with this aspect of our operations. OUR PILOTS have been quietly discussing this SAFETY CONCERN within the ranks; and have decided to bring this to the attention management personnel with the ability to effect change.This flight is always running late. Looking back at my last four rotations to Maracaibo; departures ran from 1 flight 45 minutes; 3 flights; 2 to 3 hours later than scheduled. It is with this in mind; that we ask that personnel with the ability to effect change; to RESCHEDULE this flight departure time at least 3 hours earlier. Or; we should make this airport a Special Airport for (night operations) hence; our normal alternate is not any better. It only has a VOR approach with MDA 800. Being quite aware of Customer wishes; SAFETY; and keeping a high margin of SAFETY; should be the overriding factor. We are sure that this route is a lucrative route; and profitable for the company; and should be continued. But we are asking to increase the margin of safety to this airport. The other major airline flying to MAR; is scheduled to depart early enough to effect a daylight landing; and daylight departure. Perhaps we can do the same.
B737 pilot reported unsafe conditions during night operations in Maracaibo Venezuela due to ILS approach and PAPI being out of service and overall insufficient airport lighting.