Narrative:

ATIS at sgf reporting 1/2 mi visibility in fog. Approach controller says RVR runway 2 was 1400 ft, but field visibility was unlimited. Cleared us for the VOR runway 20 approach. I said we needed 1 1/2 mi visibility to shoot VOR runway 20. She reiterates visibility unlimited. I reminded her that the ATIS reports 1/2 mi visibility. In the meantime she would not allow a VFR aircraft into the control area because the field was IFR (ceiling was unlimited with patchy ground fog). I could see the whole runway and VASI for runway 20. I consulted with our dispatch who said he called the sgf tower. They (dispatch) informed me after discussion between themselves and the controllers that I could legally shoot VOR runway 20 at sgf but not the ILS runway 2 because it had an RVR report of 1400 ft. I requested a visibility report prior to crossing the FAF. I agreed with the dispatch decision and completed the VOR runway 20 approach. After we landed, the ATIS was still reporting 1/2 mi. All through the approach, I could see the entire runway lighting system and the entire airport. Tower continued to report unlimited visibility. Tower reported unlimited visibility prior to us crossing the FAF for VOR runway 20. I believe the problem highly localized fog.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD80 CREW LANDED AT SGF WITH SOME TREPIDATION GIVEN THE RPTED VISIBILITY OF ATIS ONE HALF MI, RVR 1400 FT, AND TWR UNLIMITED.

Narrative: ATIS AT SGF RPTING 1/2 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG. APCH CTLR SAYS RVR RWY 2 WAS 1400 FT, BUT FIELD VISIBILITY WAS UNLIMITED. CLRED US FOR THE VOR RWY 20 APCH. I SAID WE NEEDED 1 1/2 MI VISIBILITY TO SHOOT VOR RWY 20. SHE REITERATES VISIBILITY UNLIMITED. I REMINDED HER THAT THE ATIS RPTS 1/2 MI VISIBILITY. IN THE MEANTIME SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW A VFR ACFT INTO THE CTL AREA BECAUSE THE FIELD WAS IFR (CEILING WAS UNLIMITED WITH PATCHY GND FOG). I COULD SEE THE WHOLE RWY AND VASI FOR RWY 20. I CONSULTED WITH OUR DISPATCH WHO SAID HE CALLED THE SGF TWR. THEY (DISPATCH) INFORMED ME AFTER DISCUSSION BTWN THEMSELVES AND THE CTLRS THAT I COULD LEGALLY SHOOT VOR RWY 20 AT SGF BUT NOT THE ILS RWY 2 BECAUSE IT HAD AN RVR RPT OF 1400 FT. I REQUESTED A VISIBILITY RPT PRIOR TO XING THE FAF. I AGREED WITH THE DISPATCH DECISION AND COMPLETED THE VOR RWY 20 APCH. AFTER WE LANDED, THE ATIS WAS STILL RPTING 1/2 MI. ALL THROUGH THE APCH, I COULD SEE THE ENTIRE RWY LIGHTING SYS AND THE ENTIRE ARPT. TWR CONTINUED TO RPT UNLIMITED VISIBILITY. TWR RPTED UNLIMITED VISIBILITY PRIOR TO US XING THE FAF FOR VOR RWY 20. I BELIEVE THE PROB HIGHLY LOCALIZED FOG.

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.