Narrative:

The flight was to depart from msn to ord. The WX received prior to leaving the gate gave a terminal forecast with a chance of ceiling 200' and visibility 1/2 mi at the ETA. Since I do not have 100 hours as acting PIC in this aircraft, I am considered a high minimums captain. The lowest forecast WX I could depart msn for ord would have been 1 mi. Upon reviewing the WX, I called dispatch and was told that for high minimums, only the current WX plays a part in determining that flight. I was read this information by the dispatch supervisor. I am not sure where they got this information. Upon returning to ord, I checked into the matter further to find that this flight was conducted illegally due to the forecast WX. It is common for dispatch to push pilots into taking a flight, no matter what. Sometimes, as in this case, they will outright lie to get the flight in the air. It is not always possible for pilots to reference regulations and the legality of every situation that arises 2 mins prior to departure. Especially when being pushed out the door, by the company.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIC OF ACR LTT HAS WRONG INTERPRETATION OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGS REGARDING RESTRICTED CAPT MINIMA.

Narrative: THE FLT WAS TO DEPART FROM MSN TO ORD. THE WX RECEIVED PRIOR TO LEAVING THE GATE GAVE A TERMINAL FORECAST WITH A CHANCE OF CEILING 200' AND VISIBILITY 1/2 MI AT THE ETA. SINCE I DO NOT HAVE 100 HRS AS ACTING PIC IN THIS ACFT, I AM CONSIDERED A HIGH MINIMUMS CAPT. THE LOWEST FORECAST WX I COULD DEPART MSN FOR ORD WOULD HAVE BEEN 1 MI. UPON REVIEWING THE WX, I CALLED DISPATCH AND WAS TOLD THAT FOR HIGH MINIMUMS, ONLY THE CURRENT WX PLAYS A PART IN DETERMINING THAT FLT. I WAS READ THIS INFO BY THE DISPATCH SUPVR. I AM NOT SURE WHERE THEY GOT THIS INFO. UPON RETURNING TO ORD, I CHKED INTO THE MATTER FURTHER TO FIND THAT THIS FLT WAS CONDUCTED ILLEGALLY DUE TO THE FORECAST WX. IT IS COMMON FOR DISPATCH TO PUSH PLTS INTO TAKING A FLT, NO MATTER WHAT. SOMETIMES, AS IN THIS CASE, THEY WILL OUTRIGHT LIE TO GET THE FLT IN THE AIR. IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE FOR PLTS TO REF REGS AND THE LEGALITY OF EVERY SITUATION THAT ARISES 2 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. ESPECIALLY WHEN BEING PUSHED OUT THE DOOR, BY THE COMPANY.

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.