Narrative:

The WX forecast was good, but when contacting tower I learned that the WX was marginal due to an unexpected WX system. Also, the ILS was OTS, but military precision radar approachs (PAR) were available. Our company does not train for PAR, so I would have to use a non precision approach. This seemed a good option. For CAT D aircraft the visibility requirement for the VOR approach was 1 1/4 mi. But visibility was reported 1 mi, with a good ceiling. I considered the alternate airport which was 200 mi away, but was concerned that the WX forecast might not be reliable there, as well. Since the aircraft was almost empty, our approach 'V' speed was well below the limits specified for CAT D aircraft, so I elected to use CAT C minimums of 1 mi. This is not specifically authority/authorized in our manual. The approach was conducted to the charted visual descent point, 1.1 mi from the runway, at the charted minimum descent altitude. At the visual descent point the runway lights were sighted and the final descent and landing accomplished without incident. Factors: no extra holding fuel provided. WX forecast optimistic. Company does not train for PAR approachs although we have many military charters. CAT D minimums specified for a large range of approach speeds and weights. Pilot judgement, to choose most likely successful landing field. Recommendations: 1) companies flying military charters should train crews to fly PAR approachs. This should be required as part of their contract. 2) terps approach limits should be flexible for aircraft that have large ranges of flight speeds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF WDB HAS WX CHANGE AND MINIMAL FUEL TO MAKE THE ALTERNATE, NOT TRAINED FOR PAR APCH, LANDS BELOW MINIMUMS.

Narrative: THE WX FORECAST WAS GOOD, BUT WHEN CONTACTING TWR I LEARNED THAT THE WX WAS MARGINAL DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED WX SYS. ALSO, THE ILS WAS OTS, BUT MIL PRECISION RADAR APCHS (PAR) WERE AVAILABLE. OUR COMPANY DOES NOT TRAIN FOR PAR, SO I WOULD HAVE TO USE A NON PRECISION APCH. THIS SEEMED A GOOD OPTION. FOR CAT D ACFT THE VISIBILITY REQUIREMENT FOR THE VOR APCH WAS 1 1/4 MI. BUT VISIBILITY WAS RPTED 1 MI, WITH A GOOD CEILING. I CONSIDERED THE ALTERNATE ARPT WHICH WAS 200 MI AWAY, BUT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WX FORECAST MIGHT NOT BE RELIABLE THERE, AS WELL. SINCE THE ACFT WAS ALMOST EMPTY, OUR APCH 'V' SPD WAS WELL BELOW THE LIMITS SPECIFIED FOR CAT D ACFT, SO I ELECTED TO USE CAT C MINIMUMS OF 1 MI. THIS IS NOT SPECIFICALLY AUTH IN OUR MANUAL. THE APCH WAS CONDUCTED TO THE CHARTED VISUAL DSCNT POINT, 1.1 MI FROM THE RWY, AT THE CHARTED MINIMUM DSCNT ALT. AT THE VISUAL DSCNT POINT THE RWY LIGHTS WERE SIGHTED AND THE FINAL DSCNT AND LNDG ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INCIDENT. FACTORS: NO EXTRA HOLDING FUEL PROVIDED. WX FORECAST OPTIMISTIC. COMPANY DOES NOT TRAIN FOR PAR APCHS ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MANY MIL CHARTERS. CAT D MINIMUMS SPECIFIED FOR A LARGE RANGE OF APCH SPDS AND WTS. PLT JUDGEMENT, TO CHOOSE MOST LIKELY SUCCESSFUL LNDG FIELD. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) COMPANIES FLYING MIL CHARTERS SHOULD TRAIN CREWS TO FLY PAR APCHS. THIS SHOULD BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THEIR CONTRACT. 2) TERPS APCH LIMITS SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE FOR ACFT THAT HAVE LARGE RANGES OF FLT SPDS.

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.