B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
On a visual approach to Runway 22L at MDW; one of the PAPI lights (second from the left) does not show up nearly as well as the other three lights in the system. It is difficult to tell if the light is red or white and therefore it is difficult to determine if the aircraft is on the proper glide path to the runway. Since there is no electronic glide path information for 22L (glide slope); the PAPI is that much more important to the Pilots on approach to this short runway. The PAPI needs to be fixed so all four lights provide the proper glide path guidance to the runway. A properly functioning PAPI system will enhance safety for Runway 22L operations at MDW.
The Reporter stated that this past winter he called ATC to notify them that snow appeared to be blocking that specific PAPI light. Since the snow is no longer present; it appears that the light itself is simply weaker than others in the array and because of its importance for night visual approaches it needs to be addressed.
A single MDW Runway 22L PAPI light; second from the left; does not illuminate as brightly as the other three array lights making glide path accuracy difficult to determine.