Oak local controller described an event when during IFR weather conditions traffic inbound to runway...

Narrative:

A learjet was on a 4 mile final to runway 11 and reported that he had runway 9R insight and would like to land there. I told the pilot to hold while I coordinated. Local 2 took the hand off and I cleared the learjet for a visual approach to runway 9R and told him to contact local 2. I was told a few minutes later by the flm that we were in IFR conditions and that we could not clear someone for a visual approach in IFR conditions. Nothing else resulted from this. Recommendation; I think we need to know what exactly is legal when we are southeast plan and a pilot is requesting to land the north field.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: OAK Local Controller described an event when during IFR weather conditions traffic inbound to Runway 11 reported Runway 9R in sight and requested a visual approach; the reporter issued a visual clearance.

Narrative: A Learjet was on a 4 mile final to Runway 11 and reported that he had Runway 9R insight and would like to land there. I told the pilot to hold while I coordinated. Local 2 took the hand off and I cleared the Learjet for a visual approach to Runway 9R and told him to contact Local 2. I was told a few minutes later by the FLM that we were in IFR conditions and that we could not clear someone for a visual approach in IFR conditions. Nothing else resulted from this. Recommendation; I think we need to know what exactly is legal when we are SE plan and a pilot is requesting to land the north field.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	875148
Time
Date	201002
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	OAK.Tower
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Bombardier Learjet Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Other Instrument Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Oak local controller described an event when during IFR weather conditions traffic inbound to runway 11 reported runway 9R in sight and requested a visual approach; the reporter issued a visual clearance.