Narrative:

Prior to taxi we received the ATIS for orh. An small transport commuter was cleared for takeoff prior to our departure, the tower advising that pilot that the RVR for runway 11 was 1400'. The pilot remarked that it was a good time to leave because the visibility seemed to be dropping. Due to the deteriorating WX and concern of visibility falling further we promptly taxied to runway 11. The tower advised us of the prevailing visibility, RVR 1400. The captain and I discussed that according to our operations specifications we could takeoff provided we had at least RVR 1200. 2 operating RVR reporting systems and 'runway centerline markings' for this we relied upon each others memory and because time was of the essence we did not actually read the operations specifications. We agreed that all was correct and departed orh. During cruise flight we reflected upon our takeoff. We discovered in review of our operations specifications that for the conditions present at orh we should have had at least RVR 1200. 2 operating reporting systems and 'operative runway centerline lighting' it seems we confused 'markings' with 'lighting'. Actually the forward visibility on runway 11 appeared better than RVR 1400 and the runway edge lights and centerline markings were clearly visible. There never was a doubt as to our position on the runway during our takeoff. I feel that the safety of our flight was never in jeopardy and feel very confident in our actions. Our decision to takeoff with the prevailing conditions seemed prudent and I think we used good judgement. The confusion between 'markings' and 'lighting' was I think an easy mistake. Whereby these terms could be possibly interchanged. Since the centerline may be 'marked' with lights or just 'marked' with paint. To prevent a recurrence of this situation is to have this information at hand, like a checklist so that decisions which must be made quickly can also be made accurately. Limitations buried in an airport book at the bottom of a flight kit is not that handy. Perhaps a personal review of these items is also a good idea! It is quite remarkable that as much information that is required to be known is for the most part remembered and acted upon in a responsible manner.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MADE A TKOF FROM ORH WITH RVR REPORTED BELOW THE MINIMUM FOR TKOF.

Narrative: PRIOR TO TAXI WE RECEIVED THE ATIS FOR ORH. AN SMT COMMUTER WAS CLRED FOR TKOF PRIOR TO OUR DEP, THE TWR ADVISING THAT PLT THAT THE RVR FOR RWY 11 WAS 1400'. THE PLT REMARKED THAT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY SEEMED TO BE DROPPING. DUE TO THE DETERIORATING WX AND CONCERN OF VISIBILITY FALLING FURTHER WE PROMPTLY TAXIED TO RWY 11. THE TWR ADVISED US OF THE PREVAILING VISIBILITY, RVR 1400. THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED THAT ACCORDING TO OUR OPS SPECS WE COULD TKOF PROVIDED WE HAD AT LEAST RVR 1200. 2 OPERATING RVR RPTING SYSTEMS AND 'RWY CTRLINE MARKINGS' FOR THIS WE RELIED UPON EACH OTHERS MEMORY AND BECAUSE TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE WE DID NOT ACTUALLY READ THE OPS SPECS. WE AGREED THAT ALL WAS CORRECT AND DEPARTED ORH. DURING CRUISE FLT WE REFLECTED UPON OUR TKOF. WE DISCOVERED IN REVIEW OF OUR OPS SPECS THAT FOR THE CONDITIONS PRESENT AT ORH WE SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST RVR 1200. 2 OPERATING RPTING SYSTEMS AND 'OPERATIVE RWY CTRLINE LIGHTING' IT SEEMS WE CONFUSED 'MARKINGS' WITH 'LIGHTING'. ACTUALLY THE FORWARD VISIBILITY ON RWY 11 APPEARED BETTER THAN RVR 1400 AND THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS AND CTRLINE MARKINGS WERE CLRLY VISIBLE. THERE NEVER WAS A DOUBT AS TO OUR POS ON THE RWY DURING OUR TKOF. I FEEL THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR FLT WAS NEVER IN JEOPARDY AND FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR ACTIONS. OUR DECISION TO TKOF WITH THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS SEEMED PRUDENT AND I THINK WE USED GOOD JUDGEMENT. THE CONFUSION BTWN 'MARKINGS' AND 'LIGHTING' WAS I THINK AN EASY MISTAKE. WHEREBY THESE TERMS COULD BE POSSIBLY INTERCHANGED. SINCE THE CTRLINE MAY BE 'MARKED' WITH LIGHTS OR JUST 'MARKED' WITH PAINT. TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THIS SITUATION IS TO HAVE THIS INFO AT HAND, LIKE A CHKLIST SO THAT DECISIONS WHICH MUST BE MADE QUICKLY CAN ALSO BE MADE ACCURATELY. LIMITATIONS BURIED IN AN ARPT BOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF A FLT KIT IS NOT THAT HANDY. PERHAPS A PERSONAL REVIEW OF THESE ITEMS IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA! IT IS QUITE REMARKABLE THAT AS MUCH INFO THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE KNOWN IS FOR THE MOST PART REMEMBERED AND ACTED UPON IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

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.