Date: 201603
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: MDW.Airport, IL
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: 1
Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Landing
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Airport; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: MDW was landing Runway 22 but the visibility dropped to one mile RNAV (RNP) Y 13C then became the only approach with minimums low enough to land (The 13C LOC/GP NOTAM was NOTAMed out of service. There were NO NOTAMs for the RNAV Y 13C. The RNAV Y 13C requires the VGSI to be operational for all night landings. When we broke out at about 1;400 MSL there were no PAPI lights at all (the required VGSI.) With the aircraft stabilized and the Flight Director in the VMC mode with a three degree angle aligned with the touchdown zone; the safest course of action was to land the aircraft. If we had known the VGSI was out; we would not have accepted the approach and would have gone into holding to determine another option.After landing; I asked the First Officer (FO) to ask the Tower why the PAPI was not on. The Tower responded; 'The PAPI is NOTAMed out.' The FO and I reviewed the NOTAMs before the approach and found no issues. We didn't say anything further to the Tower. After arriving at the gate; I immediately called Dispatch and reported the situation to them and explained that no aircraft should be allowed to land on Runway 13C because the required lighting was not operational. Additionally; I double checked the NOTAMs and there were NO NOTAMs for the PAPI (required VGSI.)So; why did Tower say they were NOTAMed out of service? After the Operations Center called MDW Tower to discuss the situation; the Dispatcher told me the Tower told the Operations Center that the lights (VGSI) were operational and that it would take an hour to get them turned on. Tower should have ensured that all REQUIRED equipment was operational before changing runways! Additionally; Tower Controllers should not tell a Pilot that something is NOTAMed out of service without also reading the NOTAMs.ALL approaches to Runways 13C and 4R at MDW require VGSI for night landings. Before switching to those runways; Tower should have a required checklist to include equipment and to ensure that aircraft can safely complete the approach to Runway 4R or 13C before activating those runways for night operations. Additionally; Company Safety should review night operations for MDW and add a note alerting Pilots to the VGSI requirements for night landings to 4R and 13C.




Synopsis: After breaking out at 1;400 feet on the RNAV Y 13C at MDW; a Captain discovered that the PAPI lights were not operational; a requirement to shoot the approach during night time; and elects to continue to landing. The Tower indicates the PAPI's are NOTAMed out; but this proves not to be true. All approaches to Runways 13C and 4R at MDW require VGSI for night landings.