Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Aircraft; Airport; Staffing
Due to an MEL; we were operating unpressurized and requested a gradual descent from the New York Center controller. He obliged by giving us 1;000 feet lower and clearing us direct to the IAF for the RNAV 6. Shortly after; he cleared us to cross the IAF 100feet above the charted altitude at that point and cleared us for the approach. I informed the controller that we would be descending in the published holding pattern at the IAF to facilitate the gradual descent for unpressurized flight. The controller did not respond. I made the same transmission when we arrived at the IAF and the controller said 'approved as requested.' We made one turn in the holding pattern before reaching the published altitude +100 Feet. We then proceeded inbound. The controller reached out to us to switch us to advisory frequency. We made our initial CTAF transmission on a 5 mile final. Airport operations informed us there were men and equipment on the runway. I responded that we were on a 3 mile final and asked if they could clear the runway. We mentally prepared for a go around at this point. Just before we reached the LNAV/VNAV DH; airport operations transmitted that all men and equipment were clear of the runway. We completed an uneventful landing. As we exited the runway; I transmitted on CTAF that we were clear of the runway. Airport operations transmitted to us to ask Center 'had advised us of the 15 minute Prior Permission Request (PPR).' We told him that we had not been advised. He responded that they had a NOTAM in effect. We did not respond. We did; however check the automated weather broadcast again. The NOTAM was not mentioned. When I contacted Center to cancel IFR; the controller was also unaware of the NOTAM.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
After a commuter flight crew landed at UNV and were taxiing clear of the runway; they were queried by operations personnel if Center 'had advised us of the 15 minute PPR.' They told him that they had not been advised. They were unable to find the NOTAM and the Center controller was also unaware of the NOTAM.