Narrative:

Originating morning flight XC00 local (still dark) cle. The WX was deteriorating rapidly from fog. Taxiing out we got a new special ATIS. Our instructions from ground were to taxi to runway 5L, hold short of runway 5R at taxiway north. Note that runway 5R is a CAT ii/low visual runway with HIRL and centerline lights and low takeoff minimums. Runway 5L has HIRL only. Holding short of runway 5R at taxiway north, tower told us to cross runway 5R and taxi into position and hold runway 5L. Followed shortly by 'runway 5L RVR now 1400-1100-800 ft cleared for takeoff.' we proceeded with an uneventful departure. However, I later realized that the takeoff on runway 5L did not have legal WX -- 1600 ft RVR. I called the tower and discussed with them that this was totally my fault, but that they could help further sits as this by knowing that acrs need the low visual runway if RVR is below 1600 ft for takeoff. If tower knows the RVR is below that value then they should ask pilots if they would like the low visual runway. Operations always run smoother if we are a little educated about our co- workers' jobs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG FLC MAKES A TKOF WITH THE VISIBILITY BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR THAT RWY.

Narrative: ORIGINATING MORNING FLT XC00 LCL (STILL DARK) CLE. THE WX WAS DETERIORATING RAPIDLY FROM FOG. TAXIING OUT WE GOT A NEW SPECIAL ATIS. OUR INSTRUCTIONS FROM GND WERE TO TAXI TO RWY 5L, HOLD SHORT OF RWY 5R AT TXWY N. NOTE THAT RWY 5R IS A CAT II/LOW VISUAL RWY WITH HIRL AND CTRLINE LIGHTS AND LOW TKOF MINIMUMS. RWY 5L HAS HIRL ONLY. HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 5R AT TXWY N, TWR TOLD US TO CROSS RWY 5R AND TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD RWY 5L. FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY 'RWY 5L RVR NOW 1400-1100-800 FT CLRED FOR TKOF.' WE PROCEEDED WITH AN UNEVENTFUL DEP. HOWEVER, I LATER REALIZED THAT THE TKOF ON RWY 5L DID NOT HAVE LEGAL WX -- 1600 FT RVR. I CALLED THE TWR AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM THAT THIS WAS TOTALLY MY FAULT, BUT THAT THEY COULD HELP FURTHER SITS AS THIS BY KNOWING THAT ACRS NEED THE LOW VISUAL RWY IF RVR IS BELOW 1600 FT FOR TKOF. IF TWR KNOWS THE RVR IS BELOW THAT VALUE THEN THEY SHOULD ASK PLTS IF THEY WOULD LIKE THE LOW VISUAL RWY. OPS ALWAYS RUN SMOOTHER IF WE ARE A LITTLE EDUCATED ABOUT OUR CO- WORKERS' JOBS.

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.