Narrative:

On approach to bos approach control was using runway 22L for lndgs. They were giving RVR 1000 var 6000+. We told them we needed at least 6000 before OM to continue approach. The last RVR given us outside the FAF was 1400 RVR, but we were able to see the runway. A fog bank to the right of the runway was causing the low RVR. All parts of the airport were visible and there were numerous aircraft being given the approach to runway 22L with the clearance, 'be careful of the fog bank.' we started the approach and well outside our FAF called the tower and told them we had both runway 22R and left in sight and wanted a visual to runway 22R. They told us, 'unable due to noise procedure cleared to land 22L.' I then said, 'I understand cleared visual for 22L.' the tower at no point gave us any updated RVR information. The last we had was from approach. After landing and further discussion with our company chkplt I was informed even though we were cleared for a visual approach to runway 22L the RVR made it below limits. The approach and tower were well aware of limits to the runway at landing but even when asked to change they would not. It is a sucker hole when the approach is given to a runway that is clear to the eye 4 1/2 mi off, but the RVR is below limits due to a local fog condition only affecting the RVR reading.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG MADE VISUAL APCH IN WHAT HE PERCEIVED AS BELOW MINIMA CONDITIONS DUE TO RVR READING.

Narrative: ON APCH TO BOS APCH CTL WAS USING RWY 22L FOR LNDGS. THEY WERE GIVING RVR 1000 VAR 6000+. WE TOLD THEM WE NEEDED AT LEAST 6000 BEFORE OM TO CONTINUE APCH. THE LAST RVR GIVEN US OUTSIDE THE FAF WAS 1400 RVR, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE RWY. A FOG BANK TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY WAS CAUSING THE LOW RVR. ALL PARTS OF THE ARPT WERE VISIBLE AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS ACFT BEING GIVEN THE APCH TO RWY 22L WITH THE CLRNC, 'BE CAREFUL OF THE FOG BANK.' WE STARTED THE APCH AND WELL OUTSIDE OUR FAF CALLED THE TWR AND TOLD THEM WE HAD BOTH RWY 22R AND L IN SIGHT AND WANTED A VISUAL TO RWY 22R. THEY TOLD US, 'UNABLE DUE TO NOISE PROC CLRED TO LAND 22L.' I THEN SAID, 'I UNDERSTAND CLRED VISUAL FOR 22L.' THE TWR AT NO POINT GAVE US ANY UPDATED RVR INFO. THE LAST WE HAD WAS FROM APCH. AFTER LNDG AND FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH OUR COMPANY CHKPLT I WAS INFORMED EVEN THOUGH WE WERE CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 22L THE RVR MADE IT BELOW LIMITS. THE APCH AND TWR WERE WELL AWARE OF LIMITS TO THE RWY AT LNDG BUT EVEN WHEN ASKED TO CHANGE THEY WOULD NOT. IT IS A SUCKER HOLE WHEN THE APCH IS GIVEN TO A RWY THAT IS CLR TO THE EYE 4 1/2 MI OFF, BUT THE RVR IS BELOW LIMITS DUE TO A LCL FOG CONDITION ONLY AFFECTING THE RVR READING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.