Flight crew of medium large transport took off slc with RVR 800, mid below 600, departure end 700.

Attributes
ACN	128890
Time
Date	198911
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : slc
State Reference	UT
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 7000
ASRS Report	128890
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4000 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	129617
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

RVR at slc at departure time was varying from below 400' to about 700'. We left the gate when it reported better than 700'. Upon arriving at the departure end of 34L, the RVR was again below 600'. We waited about 45 mins with the RVR bouncing between 400-600' at different points on the field. Finally tower called us and asked if we could go with the new RVR report of 800/midfield below 600/ departure end 700 RVR. All of a sudden I recalled that in training it was mentioned that the minimum requirement was to have 2 of the RVR devices reporting greater than 600'. I accepted a takeoff clearance and left slc. En route to den, I began to question my decision. I reviewed the manual to clear up the gray area. I found that my decision was wrong, that one (the mid-field) RVR device would have had to be reported inoperative for my departure to fully comply with regulations. Suggestion: add a sentence to the departure minimums paragraph that specifically states that if all 3 devices are operative, each must report 600' or greater.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG TOOK OFF SLC WITH RVR 800, MID BELOW 600, DEP END 700.

Narrative: RVR AT SLC AT DEP TIME WAS VARYING FROM BELOW 400' TO ABOUT 700'. WE LEFT THE GATE WHEN IT REPORTED BETTER THAN 700'. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DEP END OF 34L, THE RVR WAS AGAIN BELOW 600'. WE WAITED ABOUT 45 MINS WITH THE RVR BOUNCING BETWEEN 400-600' AT DIFFERENT POINTS ON THE FIELD. FINALLY TWR CALLED US AND ASKED IF WE COULD GO WITH THE NEW RVR REPORT OF 800/MIDFIELD BELOW 600/ DEP END 700 RVR. ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECALLED THAT IN TRAINING IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT WAS TO HAVE 2 OF THE RVR DEVICES REPORTING GREATER THAN 600'. I ACCEPTED A TKOF CLRNC AND LEFT SLC. ENRTE TO DEN, I BEGAN TO QUESTION MY DECISION. I REVIEWED THE MANUAL TO CLEAR UP THE GRAY AREA. I FOUND THAT MY DECISION WAS WRONG, THAT ONE (THE MID-FIELD) RVR DEVICE WOULD HAVE HAD TO BE REPORTED INOPERATIVE FOR MY DEP TO FULLY COMPLY WITH REGS. SUGGESTION: ADD A SENTENCE TO THE DEP MINIMUMS PARAGRAPH THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT IF ALL 3 DEVICES ARE OPERATIVE, EACH MUST REPORT 600' OR GREATER.

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.