Narrative:

As we prepared for taxi for our early morning departure to stl the current ATIS reported RVR of 6000' for runway 27. After we were cleared to taxi to runway 27 an update from ground control reported 1800 RVR on 27. As we held short of runway 27 we reviewed operations specifications for lower than standard takeoffs. With standard minimums on runway 27 of RVR 5000 for 2 engine aircraft, it was decided that operations specifications would allow for a takeoff with RVR as low as 1600. At this point tower cleared us for takeoff with an RVR of 2200. After level off in cruise we discussed this situation again. After further review of the sbn takeoff minimums, we discovered the column labeled 'RVR reported' showing a value of 2400. This is shown just to the left of the column that indicates standard takeoff minimums for runway 27 and is also the only runway in our entire stl system that is displayed I this manner. Upon return to stl numerous inquiries were made as to whether this indicates the absolute minimum for takeoff or, of our lower than standard operations specifications could be used based on the standard value of 5000 RVR shown for runway 27. In any case, to avoid a situation like this again, I believe a frequent and thorough review of part 97 information and operations specifications should be done either through more emphasis in recurrent training or, more importantly, through our own desire to maintain professionalism. Supplemental information from acn 103800 callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: flight crew went to company training department and they in turn went to commercial chart maker and company training department is now explaining the charts and flight crew know they cannot go below chart minimums for a specified runway and that their operations specification minimums, even though lower, will not lower charted runway minimums.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LTT TOOK OFF WITH REPORTED RVR BELOW REQUIRED MINIMUM FOR RWY.

Narrative: AS WE PREPARED FOR TAXI FOR OUR EARLY MORNING DEP TO STL THE CURRENT ATIS RPTED RVR OF 6000' FOR RWY 27. AFTER WE WERE CLRED TO TAXI TO RWY 27 AN UPDATE FROM GND CTL RPTED 1800 RVR ON 27. AS WE HELD SHORT OF RWY 27 WE REVIEWED OPS SPECS FOR LOWER THAN STANDARD TKOFS. WITH STANDARD MINIMUMS ON RWY 27 OF RVR 5000 FOR 2 ENG ACFT, IT WAS DECIDED THAT OPS SPECS WOULD ALLOW FOR A TKOF WITH RVR AS LOW AS 1600. AT THIS POINT TWR CLRED US FOR TKOF WITH AN RVR OF 2200. AFTER LEVEL OFF IN CRUISE WE DISCUSSED THIS SITUATION AGAIN. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW OF THE SBN TKOF MINIMUMS, WE DISCOVERED THE COLUMN LABELED 'RVR RPTED' SHOWING A VALUE OF 2400. THIS IS SHOWN JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE COLUMN THAT INDICATES STANDARD TKOF MINIMUMS FOR RWY 27 AND IS ALSO THE ONLY RWY IN OUR ENTIRE STL SYS THAT IS DISPLAYED I THIS MANNER. UPON RETURN TO STL NUMEROUS INQUIRIES WERE MADE AS TO WHETHER THIS INDICATES THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM FOR TKOF OR, OF OUR LOWER THAN STANDARD OPS SPECS COULD BE USED BASED ON THE STANDARD VALUE OF 5000 RVR SHOWN FOR RWY 27. IN ANY CASE, TO AVOID A SITUATION LIKE THIS AGAIN, I BELIEVE A FREQUENT AND THOROUGH REVIEW OF PART 97 INFO AND OPS SPECS SHOULD BE DONE EITHER THROUGH MORE EMPHASIS IN RECURRENT TRNING OR, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THROUGH OUR OWN DESIRE TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONALISM. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 103800 CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: FLT CREW WENT TO COMPANY TRNING DEPT AND THEY IN TURN WENT TO COMMERCIAL CHART MAKER AND COMPANY TRNING DEPT IS NOW EXPLAINING THE CHARTS AND FLT CREW KNOW THEY CANNOT GO BELOW CHART MINIMUMS FOR A SPECIFIED RWY AND THAT THEIR OPS SPEC MINIMUMS, EVEN THOUGH LOWER, WILL NOT LOWER CHARTED RWY MINIMUMS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.