An air carrier F-100 captain questions the legality of his takeoff in instrument WX.

Attributes
ACN	261404
Time
Date	199401
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : alb
State Reference	NY
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : rno
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 ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 7000 flight time type : 189
ASRS Report	261404
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other other

Narrative:

Prior to takeoff, tower called visibility of 3/4 mi, since it was below standard for 2 engine carrier aircraft (1 mi). I referenced to my company's operation specifications for takeoff legalities. RVR was inoperative, so I referenced to 1/4 visibility takeoff criteria. Runway 19 at alb had both operable high intensity runway lights and centerline runway markings for runway 19. Takeoff was accomplished uneventfully and normal flight to destination (ord) accomplished. I am submitting this NASA report strictly for my own reference on this matter. From my own review of the legality charts and commercial flight charts, takeoff was fully legal and safely accomplished.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR F-100 CAPT QUESTIONS THE LEGALITY OF HIS TKOF IN INST WX.

Narrative: PRIOR TO TKOF, TWR CALLED VISIBILITY OF 3/4 MI, SINCE IT WAS BELOW STANDARD FOR 2 ENG CARRIER ACFT (1 MI). I REFED TO MY COMPANY'S OP SPECS FOR TKOF LEGALITIES. RVR WAS INOP, SO I REFED TO 1/4 VISIBILITY TKOF CRITERIA. RWY 19 AT ALB HAD BOTH OPERABLE HIGH INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS AND CTRLINE RWY MARKINGS FOR RWY 19. TKOF WAS ACCOMPLISHED UNEVENTFULLY AND NORMAL FLT TO DEST (ORD) ACCOMPLISHED. I AM SUBMITTING THIS NASA RPT STRICTLY FOR MY OWN REF ON THIS MATTER. FROM MY OWN REVIEW OF THE LEGALITY CHARTS AND COMMERCIAL FLT CHARTS, TKOF WAS FULLY LEGAL AND SAFELY ACCOMPLISHED.

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.