Narrative:

Upon show for duty, I checked my WX packet for the WX and NOTAMS for the day. NOTAMS stated that the runway lights for acv runway 14-32 were OTS, at xa:35 local time I called our dispatch and asked them to cancel from smf to acv on the basis the runway lights were OTS. They told me to call back after xd:00 to get an update. At xd:30 I called dispatch and said my information still showed the lights OTS they said they had a company PIREP saying the lights were working and they told me to launch. I fueled with adequate fuel to safely fly to acv from smf and return to smf if the runway lights were OTS. 30 mins into the flight (60 NM northwest of ila VOR) ZOA told me to call company to return to smf. The problem area is far 135.229 on determining the airport requirements. Which I launched upon the fact that company had told me they had pilot reports of the runway lights working. In order to avoid situations like this in the future I feel part 135 dispatchers should be required specialized training and testing. They should also be licensed like pilots and mechanics and be subject to the same fines and violations as pilots and mechanics.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT DEP SMF FOR ACV WHEN NOTAMS INDICATED RWY LIGHTS OTS. PLT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY COMPANY DISPATCH THAT A PIREP HAD BEEN RECEIVED SAYING RWY'S LIGHTS WERE OPERATING.

Narrative: UPON SHOW FOR DUTY, I CHKED MY WX PACKET FOR THE WX AND NOTAMS FOR THE DAY. NOTAMS STATED THAT THE RWY LIGHTS FOR ACV RWY 14-32 WERE OTS, AT XA:35 LCL TIME I CALLED OUR DISPATCH AND ASKED THEM TO CANCEL FROM SMF TO ACV ON THE BASIS THE RWY LIGHTS WERE OTS. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL BACK AFTER XD:00 TO GET AN UPDATE. AT XD:30 I CALLED DISPATCH AND SAID MY INFO STILL SHOWED THE LIGHTS OTS THEY SAID THEY HAD A COMPANY PIREP SAYING THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING AND THEY TOLD ME TO LAUNCH. I FUELED WITH ADEQUATE FUEL TO SAFELY FLY TO ACV FROM SMF AND RETURN TO SMF IF THE RWY LIGHTS WERE OTS. 30 MINS INTO THE FLT (60 NM NW OF ILA VOR) ZOA TOLD ME TO CALL COMPANY TO RETURN TO SMF. THE PROB AREA IS FAR 135.229 ON DETERMINING THE ARPT REQUIREMENTS. WHICH I LAUNCHED UPON THE FACT THAT COMPANY HAD TOLD ME THEY HAD PLT RPTS OF THE RWY LIGHTS WORKING. IN ORDER TO AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE I FEEL PART 135 DISPATCHERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED SPECIALIZED TRNING AND TESTING. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE LICENSED LIKE PLTS AND MECHS AND BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME FINES AND VIOLATIONS AS PLTS AND MECHS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.