Widebody Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Weather; Human Factors
We were flying the 12 DME arc approaching MANGO for the VOR DME 23 Approach LAD. The weather painted moderate to severe echoes (yellow to red chain) several miles northwest of MANGO all the way along the final approach course to just west of VNA VOR. There were 3 other aircraft on approach to LAD. Non-radar environment; we descended to FL50 as instructed by ATC. As we got closer to the weather was evident that we needed to break off the approach. We advised ATC we were departing to the north. Shortly thereafter; another Air Carrier (behind us) did the same. We were instructed to join a 15 DME arc to join the VNA 230 radial for the VOR 05 approach. We set up the raw data arc; as the approach for the VOR 05 was designed and charted without a DME arc (unable VNA transition due to weather in the vicinity of the VOR). We proceeded as instructed; and then were told to expect one circuit prior to final approach clearance. We held on the CD05 fix (FAC inbound); and were told to descend to 3;000 FT. We were cleared for the approach. As 3;000 FT left us high on the approach; we descended and were told to advise when we reached MDA. Upon reaching; we called MDA. We were asked if the airport was in sight. We continued at MDA. As I called 'negative'; we picked up the runway as he told us to go around. I advised him the 'runway is in sight'; and he cleared us to continue and contact him once on the ground. We were not told to contact Tower; and were under the impression he wanted us to stay with him. I was busy monitoring the descent and considering an alternate missed approach scheme as the published missed was out of the question. We called approach upon landing as instructed and then contacted tower. Taxi in was normal. No suggestions; as we were limited on options with weather; a non-radar environment; with 3 other aircraft that we were aware of occupying the same airspace. The Controller managed to get all of us turned around to Runway 05 and synchronized the traffic as necessary. One area of confusion is the Approach Controller's instruction to contact him on the ground; vice having us switch to Tower frequency for a clearance to land; then have them contact him.
[We were] on 12 DME arc for VOR DME Runway 23 LAD approximately 5 DME from MANGO. told Approach Control turning left to avoid Circuit Breakers (CBs). Final was line of CBs from past Mango to the airport right on final. Approach said; fly 15 DME ARC for VOR Runway 05. We flew 15 DME ARC. Approach told us to intercept VNA 230 radial inbound; and make one circuit on final for traffic while maintaining level 50. [I] told Approach entering hold at level 50. Approach cleared us to 3;000 FT and cleared the approach. [We] shot approach Runway 05. Approach said report MDA. We reported MDA. Approach asked do you have the runway in sight? We said no. Approach said go-around. We got runway in sight as he said go-around. We told Approach runway in sight. Approach said continue and contact him on the ground. We stayed with him until on the ground as instructed. [We] contacted him on the ground and the Tower to clear the runway. After we deviated for the weather; 3 other aircraft did the same and I think the Controller was overwhelmed in the non radar environment.
Air Carrier flight crew encounters heavy weather during approach to Runway 23 at FNLU and breaks of the approach to the north; advising ATC. Two other aircraft are similarly affected and ATC manages to get all three aircraft turned around and on to the VOR approach to Runway 5; in a non Radar environment; without significant delay.