Narrative:

During preflight while reviewing WX, the forecast for our destination was for light freezing rain. This included a temporary (conditional) phrase for freezing rain (moderate implied). I called our dispatcher and advised us we could not be dispatched into moderate freezing rain. His reply was that the dispatch limitation was only for known icing. Then he discussed it with his dispatch manager, and finally told me that I would have to call the chief pilot if I still didn't want to go. I called the chief pilot and he told me dispatch was right -- that conditional phrases were only limiting for visibility. After another look at the air carrier manual and discussion with my first officer, I called the chief pilot again to ask for the reference he was using. He and the assistant chief pilot were on speaker phone and neither had the reference handy, but both agreed that it was legal and I should take the flight as dispatched, so I did. After a chance for a more thorough review, I am convinced this was not legal. I have self disclosed to the company training department, and even the check airmen were not sure. In the future, I will be sure before departing and not go just at the direction of my boss.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 CREW QUESTIONED BEING RELEASED TO AN ARPT FORECAST TO HAVE A POSSIBILITY OF FREEZING RAIN (MODERATE IMPLIED).

Narrative: DURING PREFLT WHILE REVIEWING WX, THE FORECAST FOR OUR DEST WAS FOR LIGHT FREEZING RAIN. THIS INCLUDED A TEMPORARY (CONDITIONAL) PHRASE FOR FREEZING RAIN (MODERATE IMPLIED). I CALLED OUR DISPATCHER AND ADVISED US WE COULD NOT BE DISPATCHED INTO MODERATE FREEZING RAIN. HIS REPLY WAS THAT THE DISPATCH LIMITATION WAS ONLY FOR KNOWN ICING. THEN HE DISCUSSED IT WITH HIS DISPATCH MGR, AND FINALLY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE CHIEF PLT IF I STILL DIDN'T WANT TO GO. I CALLED THE CHIEF PLT AND HE TOLD ME DISPATCH WAS RIGHT -- THAT CONDITIONAL PHRASES WERE ONLY LIMITING FOR VISIBILITY. AFTER ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ACR MANUAL AND DISCUSSION WITH MY FO, I CALLED THE CHIEF PLT AGAIN TO ASK FOR THE REF HE WAS USING. HE AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEF PLT WERE ON SPEAKER PHONE AND NEITHER HAD THE REF HANDY, BUT BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS LEGAL AND I SHOULD TAKE THE FLT AS DISPATCHED, SO I DID. AFTER A CHANCE FOR A MORE THOROUGH REVIEW, I AM CONVINCED THIS WAS NOT LEGAL. I HAVE SELF DISCLOSED TO THE COMPANY TRAINING DEPT, AND EVEN THE CHK AIRMEN WERE NOT SURE. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL BE SURE BEFORE DEPARTING AND NOT GO JUST AT THE DIRECTION OF MY BOSS.

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.