Narrative:

This report is for a possible dispatch violation on a scheduled part 121 flight from mem to pit. Prior to departure from memphis, the latest surface observation for pittsburgh was wox 1/4 F, wind calm RVR runway 28R 14v16. The past several surface observation reports and record special reports indicated that the WX had deteriorated, but was not expected to go any lower. The forecast for our arrival time was 2 1/2 mi visibility occasional 1 1/2 mi in fog. The time in route was 1 hour 22 mins so we were in the 90 mins or less rule which states that we can dispatch with a below minimums current and an above minimums forecast only if a favorable trend exists. The possible problem with this flight was that the only runway that was CAT ii capable was runway 10L and the reported RVR was for runway 28R which has only a CAT I approach. The captain and I both understood that we could not land on runway 28R, but runway 10L would be legal because we only needed 1200 ft RVR for the CAT ii approach. Also, there were no local or fdc NOTAMS restricting the use of runway 10L for a CAT ii approach. Upon arrival at pittsburgh, runway 10L was in use as we had expected. The RVR for runway 10L was reported as 2800 ft RVR when we commenced the approach and landed. Apparently, it is normal for pittsburgh tower to issue RVR readings for runway 28R because it is the normal departure runway. However, if the WX given is below landing minimums for that runway and another more suitable runway is available for landing, it would be helpful if ATC would also issue WX reports that would be useful for arriving aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCH TO ARPT FORECASTING BELOW CAT I MINIMUMS, BUT ABOVE CAT II MINIMUMS FOR RECIPROCAL RWY.

Narrative: THIS RPT IS FOR A POSSIBLE DISPATCH VIOLATION ON A SCHEDULED PART 121 FLT FROM MEM TO PIT. PRIOR TO DEP FROM MEMPHIS, THE LATEST SURFACE OBSERVATION FOR PITTSBURGH WAS WOX 1/4 F, WIND CALM RVR RWY 28R 14V16. THE PAST SEVERAL SURFACE OBSERVATION RPTS AND RECORD SPECIAL RPTS INDICATED THAT THE WX HAD DETERIORATED, BUT WAS NOT EXPECTED TO GO ANY LOWER. THE FORECAST FOR OUR ARR TIME WAS 2 1/2 MI VISIBILITY OCCASIONAL 1 1/2 MI IN FOG. THE TIME IN RTE WAS 1 HR 22 MINS SO WE WERE IN THE 90 MINS OR LESS RULE WHICH STATES THAT WE CAN DISPATCH WITH A BELOW MINIMUMS CURRENT AND AN ABOVE MINIMUMS FORECAST ONLY IF A FAVORABLE TREND EXISTS. THE POSSIBLE PROB WITH THIS FLT WAS THAT THE ONLY RWY THAT WAS CAT II CAPABLE WAS RWY 10L AND THE RPTED RVR WAS FOR RWY 28R WHICH HAS ONLY A CAT I APCH. THE CAPT AND I BOTH UNDERSTOOD THAT WE COULD NOT LAND ON RWY 28R, BUT RWY 10L WOULD BE LEGAL BECAUSE WE ONLY NEEDED 1200 FT RVR FOR THE CAT II APCH. ALSO, THERE WERE NO LCL OR FDC NOTAMS RESTRICTING THE USE OF RWY 10L FOR A CAT II APCH. UPON ARR AT PITTSBURGH, RWY 10L WAS IN USE AS WE HAD EXPECTED. THE RVR FOR RWY 10L WAS RPTED AS 2800 FT RVR WHEN WE COMMENCED THE APCH AND LANDED. APPARENTLY, IT IS NORMAL FOR PITTSBURGH TWR TO ISSUE RVR READINGS FOR RWY 28R BECAUSE IT IS THE NORMAL DEP RWY. HOWEVER, IF THE WX GIVEN IS BELOW LNDG MINIMUMS FOR THAT RWY AND ANOTHER MORE SUITABLE RWY IS AVAILABLE FOR LNDG, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF ATC WOULD ALSO ISSUE WX RPTS THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ARRIVING ACFT.

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.