Flight crew on approach to mco visually when WX was reported 2 mi. Continued visual approach.

Attributes
ACN	183696
Time
Date	199107
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mco
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : mco
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 3100
ASRS Report	183696
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : clearance non adherence : far
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:

On approaching mco, we called the airport in sight and asked to proceed direct to the OM for a turn on. This was approved, upon reaching the OM we were cleared for the approach to runway 18R which we had in visual contact. At this point, not giving it much thought, I thought we were cleared for the visual approach. When established inbound to the runway the tower reported visibility 2 mi and asked if we would like vector back out for the ILS 18R. We elected to continue with the runway in sight in VFR conditions. After landing I was thinking that the visibility reported was less than VFR and we could not be issued a visual approach. However, if we were cleared for the ILS to 18R and ATC was concerned about the tight turn on there was no problem. In the future to reduce the confusion, I plan to include the latest WX in with the approach briefing, and review procedures on the approach if it is changed from 1 kind to another including visual approachs. I would also like to see ATC cancel approach clearance when WX is or falls below mins.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC ON APCH TO MCO VISUALLY WHEN WX WAS RPTED 2 MI. CONTINUED VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: ON APCHING MCO, WE CALLED THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND ASKED TO PROCEED DIRECT TO THE OM FOR A TURN ON. THIS WAS APPROVED, UPON REACHING THE OM WE WERE CLRED FOR THE APCH TO RWY 18R WHICH WE HAD IN VISUAL CONTACT. AT THIS POINT, NOT GIVING IT MUCH THOUGHT, I THOUGHT WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH. WHEN ESTABLISHED INBOUND TO THE RWY THE TWR RPTED VISIBILITY 2 MI AND ASKED IF WE WOULD LIKE VECTOR BACK OUT FOR THE ILS 18R. WE ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE RWY IN SIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS. AFTER LNDG I WAS THINKING THAT THE VISIBILITY RPTED WAS LESS THAN VFR AND WE COULD NOT BE ISSUED A VISUAL APCH. HOWEVER, IF WE WERE CLRED FOR THE ILS TO 18R AND ATC WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIGHT TURN ON THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IN THE FUTURE TO REDUCE THE CONFUSION, I PLAN TO INCLUDE THE LATEST WX IN WITH THE APCH BRIEFING, AND REVIEW PROCS ON THE APCH IF IT IS CHANGED FROM 1 KIND TO ANOTHER INCLUDING VISUAL APCHS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE ATC CANCEL APCH CLRNC WHEN WX IS OR FALLS BELOW MINS.

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.