Date: 201810
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: IMC
Weather elements / visibility: Cloudy
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Final Approach
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Contributing factors: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings

Narrative: ZZZ was advertising the RNAV due to the ILS to [Runway] XX being out of service. The RNAV was briefed and performed. The approach was attempted two times due to not breaking out at minimums. The reported ceilings were reported at 300 feet overcast. After the second go around; we requested to shoot the ILS to Runway XY if able. The Approach Controller requested we standby and would ask the Tower. He came back and told us the ILS to [Runway] XX was now in service and asked if we would like that approach. We accepted the approach and briefed it. Just outside of the final approach fix; we were transferred to Tower. My First Officer checked on and we were cleared to land. Once inside the final approach fix; Tower asked if we were receiving the glide slope. We responded yes and the controller replied 'OK we show the glide slope in the green but it hasn't been re-certified. You can shoot the localizer approach if you want.' All indications were normal for us and we continued the approach and landed without any issues. I believe the cause of this event was poor communication with ATC. We were offered and cleared for an approach. After the fact; it seemed as though they weren't sure about giving us the approach. If faced with this again; I would execute a missed approach and get further clarification from ATC before continuing the approach.


Second narrative: ZZZ was advertising the RNAV due to the ILS to [Runway] XX being out of service. The RNAV was briefed and performed. The approach was attempted two times due to not breaking out at minimums. After the second missed approach; we requested the ILS to Runway XY which would have included a slight tailwind within our limitations. The Approach Controller requested we standby and would ask the Tower. He came back and told us the ILS to [Runway] XX was now in service and asked if we would like that approach. We accepted the approach and briefed it. We received vectors and were cleared for the ILS XX to ZZZ. Just outside of the final approach fix; we were transferred to Tower. We checked on with Tower and we were cleared to land. Once inside the final approach fix; Tower asked if we were receiving the glide slope. We responded yes and the controller replied 'OK we show the glide slope in the green but it hasn't been re-certified. You can shoot the localizer approach if you want.' All indications were normal for us and we continued the approach and landed without any issues. We knew the [glide path] for the ILS XX was NOTAMed OTS and because of that we requesting the operative ILS to [Runway] XY. ATC told us the ILS to [Runway] XX was now operative after we requested [Runway] XY. We were cleared for the ILS to [Runway] XX. Tower cleared us to land [Runway] XX. Once inside the final approach fix for the ILS to [Runway] XX; Tower never canceled our approach clearance or told us the [glide path] was unusable. Tower stated it was showing 'green.' We assumed this meant it was working normal. We were unsure what 're-certified' meant. Tower said we could 'fly the localizer approach if we wanted to.' We were already inside the final approach fix on the ILS and were unsure what kind of suggestion this was or what her saying implied. Because all indications were normal; we continued. If Tower was unsure that the [glide path] for the ILS to [Runway] XX was working or not; they should have never told us it was working and given us the approach. We never considered the ILS to [Runway] XX an option and we even requested [Runway] XY for that reason. If ATC realized we were cleared for an approach that wasn't 're-certified;' they should have canceled our approach clearance and told us to go around. Captain and I were unsure what 'approach is showing green and you can shoot the localizer if you want' meant. Next time ATC says something that we are unsure of; we should clarify the exact meaning or go missed.


Synopsis: CRJ-700 flight crew reported conducting ILS approach inside the FAF when ATC state the glideslope is not re-certified. Flight crew was not sure how to interpret ATC's statement.