Terminology used in WX briefing, marginal VFR, questioned. Unable to file IFR to NDB.

Attributes
ACN	262085
Time
Date	199401
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : 3r8
State Reference	LA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	other : unknown
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 2100 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	262085
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	other personnel other
Qualification	other
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

During a standard WX briefing for a local IFR flight, the WX briefer told me that the WX was 'marginal VFR' 2000-2300 broken with 3-4 mi in fog. Is the term 'marginal VFR' a commonly (legal) term for a standard WX briefing or when WX is given by ATC? Please let me know! Thank you. I attempted to file an IFR flight plan from 3r8 to aex by filing 3r8 direct campi (which is the local) NDB and then direct aex. The ATC computer would not accept campi as a fix. FSS said I would need to file direct or to an intersection on V114, but I can't file direct due to 3r8 being out of the service volume. It would be easier to file campi NDB and then direct, instead of trying to find an intersection up to 25 NM away. Why can't I file to a NDB? Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter advised aim definition of marginal VFR, 1000 to 3000 ceiling and 3 to 5 mi visibility. Filing IFR to an NDB limited by what has been programmed into the computer. If the NDB is not in the computer, the planned routing will not be accepted. Information from procedure specialist at FSDO. Reporter using information for a ground school class.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TERMINOLOGY USED IN WX BRIEFING, MARGINAL VFR, QUESTIONED. UNABLE TO FILE IFR TO NDB.

Narrative: DURING A STANDARD WX BRIEFING FOR A LCL IFR FLT, THE WX BRIEFER TOLD ME THAT THE WX WAS 'MARGINAL VFR' 2000-2300 BROKEN WITH 3-4 MI IN FOG. IS THE TERM 'MARGINAL VFR' A COMMONLY (LEGAL) TERM FOR A STANDARD WX BRIEFING OR WHEN WX IS GIVEN BY ATC? PLEASE LET ME KNOW! THANK YOU. I ATTEMPTED TO FILE AN IFR FLT PLAN FROM 3R8 TO AEX BY FILING 3R8 DIRECT CAMPI (WHICH IS THE LCL) NDB AND THEN DIRECT AEX. THE ATC COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACCEPT CAMPI AS A FIX. FSS SAID I WOULD NEED TO FILE DIRECT OR TO AN INTXN ON V114, BUT I CAN'T FILE DIRECT DUE TO 3R8 BEING OUT OF THE SVC VOLUME. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO FILE CAMPI NDB AND THEN DIRECT, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND AN INTXN UP TO 25 NM AWAY. WHY CAN'T I FILE TO A NDB? CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED AIM DEFINITION OF MARGINAL VFR, 1000 TO 3000 CEILING AND 3 TO 5 MI VISIBILITY. FILING IFR TO AN NDB LIMITED BY WHAT HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED INTO THE COMPUTER. IF THE NDB IS NOT IN THE COMPUTER, THE PLANNED ROUTING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. INFO FROM PROC SPECIALIST AT FSDO. RPTR USING INFO FOR A GND SCHOOL CLASS.

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.