Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Weather
There are many risks associated with this airport and also non-standard items and practices that need to be put out to the pilots operating in and out of SPS. The airport is an Air Force base first and foremost. The civilian sector in my opinion is merely an add-on. It is completely controlled by military controllers and they are not all that used to controlling civilian flights.We were scheduled out in night conditions with thunderstorms in the area of SPS. The FO and I talked extensively before departure about the weather and our plan of action and alternatives if they needed to be used. We initially planned a descent and left downwind entry for a visual to runway 17; but we also briefed about possible ILS to 15C. We deviated throughout most of the flight to SPS for thunderstorms along the route. We ended up well East of the airport and finally turned West while we were NE of the field. Due to the weather we planned at that point to shoot the ILS to 15C instead of the visual to 17. ATC vectored us close enough that during the descent we were able to fully see the runway and proceeded to join the localizer for 15C several miles outside of the final approach fix. We were VFR at this time and while there were thunderstorms in the area; the immediate vicinity around SPS was in the clear. We joined to the localizer and proceeded to do a visual backed up with the ILS. As we approached the runway I noted that we had a dot deviation off the LOC that increased as we closed to the runway. After looking at the chart closely; we realized that we were lined up for 15R which was the lighted runway. There were no lights on 15C. We verified that we were indeed lined up for SPS and proceeded to land on 15R. Taxied [to parking] and the flight ended successfully. Here are where my notes come in.I do not know why; but the ASOS had been turned off from transmitting and we had to get the weather from the Center. Perhaps the Air Force turns off the broadcast feature when the tower is closed as part of an Air Force practice. Crews need to know that current weather is unavailable over the radio when the tower is closed. Either obtain on the ground prior to departure (from SPS when local tower is closed) over the phone or inflight with Center prior to arrival. While the ILS to 15C is on and usable when the tower is closed it will guide pilots to an unlit runway. We attempted to turn on the runway lights several times with no success. Major threat. There appears to be no pilot controlled lighting at SPS. As mentioned above we attempted to turn on the lights for 15C several times with no luck. Additionally; even in perfect VFR conditions at night and with a preferred visual approach to 17; the 17 lights are set on dim and we are unable to adjust the setting. Runway 17 can be lost quite easily during a downwind approach and not having the ability to turn up the lights to a higher intensity can complicate the approach. This can lead to pilots flying an ILS simply because it has better guidance; but threat wise now we are flying an approach to an unlit runway that if pilots are not aware of may cause confusion and a last minute sidestep to the lit runway. Fortunately in this case we were visual quite early and easily made the adjustment in a timely and safe fashion. But if under low approaches during low ceilings; this could be a major problem especially if unprepared for this situation. Also note; that runway 17 has no guidance at all; no approaches; and no visual guidance such as a PAPI; or VASI. To a prepared crew; not a problem; but it is a threat.Day time operations at SPS are also a challenge. The controllers sometimes use non-standard communication for civil use and there is a high possibility of TA's or RA's due to high intensity military training. My one day time operation (arrival) to SPS we were following a commercial aircraft and they received an RA resulting in a go around for them. The local controller asked us if we were familiar with SPS and noted there is a high frequency of TA's/RA's. We landed without incident. Crews need to be aware that they are operating into an Air Force base that does things differently.
Pilot reported several non-standard issues at SPS mostly related to runway lighting and weather reporting.