Narrative:

Dispatcher said that we could use runway 13R for our departure. Runway 13L could be used even though the touchdown zone RVR was inoperative, but that the other 2 RVR's would be required and were working and above minimums. Our company minimums would be RVR 1000 ft. (Commercial chart) indicated that we needed RVR 600 ft on each RVR. When we got ready to pick up our ATC clearance, we asked delivery for runway 13R departure. They told us that it was not available because the RVR was inoperative. I asked them what the midpoint and rollout RVR were. They told us that the values were 2500-3500 ft. When we were cleared for takeoff, we were asked if we had taxiway P, were told that RVR for runway 13R was unavailable and to expedite takeoff. The ATC, pilot communication could have been better that morning.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A BOEING 747 FLC OBTAINED A TKOF CLRNC FROM A RWY WITH ONE RVR INDICATOR INOP AT ANC. ANC TWR SEEMED TO QUESTION USE OF A RWY WITH ONE INOP RVR.

Narrative: DISPATCHER SAID THAT WE COULD USE RWY 13R FOR OUR DEP. RWY 13L COULD BE USED EVEN THOUGH THE TOUCHDOWN ZONE RVR WAS INOP, BUT THAT THE OTHER 2 RVR'S WOULD BE REQUIRED AND WERE WORKING AND ABOVE MINIMUMS. OUR COMPANY MINIMUMS WOULD BE RVR 1000 FT. (COMMERCIAL CHART) INDICATED THAT WE NEEDED RVR 600 FT ON EACH RVR. WHEN WE GOT READY TO PICK UP OUR ATC CLRNC, WE ASKED DELIVERY FOR RWY 13R DEP. THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE RVR WAS INOP. I ASKED THEM WHAT THE MIDPOINT AND ROLLOUT RVR WERE. THEY TOLD US THAT THE VALUES WERE 2500-3500 FT. WHEN WE WERE CLRED FOR TKOF, WE WERE ASKED IF WE HAD TXWY P, WERE TOLD THAT RVR FOR RWY 13R WAS UNAVAILABLE AND TO EXPEDITE TKOF. THE ATC, PLT COM COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAT MORNING.

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.