Narrative:

I am a captain with airlines and took off from visalia airport under VFR. The airport is uncontrolled but has a control zone. The latest WX I had was at XY38 from the company's computer with the last sa report at XX45. The WX at this time was 20,000, set with an area forecast valid from YY00-XZ00 local to be 25,000,set oncnl 5H. Our scheduled departure was XY55 and we took of at XZX05. When the first officer contacted fresno departure he said the WX at XY58 was 2 mi at visalia. I feel this situation arose from not having the most up-to-date WX at the time of departure. The current WX for our operation would not be available until XZ03-XZ10 from the computer. Visalia does have WX over the clovis VOR (tweb), which could be used to obtain WX. Also a call to fresno approach while on the ground prior to takeoff would be a good idea. When we taxied from the gate for takeoff the prevailing visibility certainly appeared to be 3 mi (+). When the WX is at 3 mi it has the potential to become better or worse, but it would be prudent to depart IFR even though the WX appears to be VFR, just to be safe.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF SMT COMMUTER ALLEGEDLY TOOK OFF ON VFR FLT WITH VISIBILITY OF 2 MILES REQUIRING IFR FLT PLAN.

Narrative: I AM A CAPT WITH AIRLINES AND TOOK OFF FROM VISALIA ARPT UNDER VFR. THE ARPT IS UNCONTROLLED BUT HAS A CTL ZONE. THE LATEST WX I HAD WAS AT XY38 FROM THE COMPANY'S COMPUTER WITH THE LAST SA REPORT AT XX45. THE WX AT THIS TIME WAS 20,000, SET WITH AN AREA FORECAST VALID FROM YY00-XZ00 LCL TO BE 25,000,SET ONCNL 5H. OUR SCHEDULED DEP WAS XY55 AND WE TOOK OF AT XZX05. WHEN THE F/O CONTACTED FRESNO DEP HE SAID THE WX AT XY58 WAS 2 MI AT VISALIA. I FEEL THIS SITUATION AROSE FROM NOT HAVING THE MOST UP-TO-DATE WX AT THE TIME OF DEP. THE CURRENT WX FOR OUR OPERATION WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL XZ03-XZ10 FROM THE COMPUTER. VISALIA DOES HAVE WX OVER THE CLOVIS VOR (TWEB), WHICH COULD BE USED TO OBTAIN WX. ALSO A CALL TO FRESNO APCH WHILE ON THE GND PRIOR TO TKOF WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. WHEN WE TAXIED FROM THE GATE FOR TKOF THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY CERTAINLY APPEARED TO BE 3 MI (+). WHEN THE WX IS AT 3 MI IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME BETTER OR WORSE, BUT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO DEPART IFR EVEN THOUGH THE WX APPEARS TO BE VFR, JUST TO BE SAFE.

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.