Narrative:

It was a trip from columbia, mo, to lincoln, northeast, part 135 charter. At departure time from columbia, lincoln's WX was 1000' overcast 2 in snow. Approximately 20 NM nne of lnk a new ATIS was received of WX 100 1/2 snow, with a RVR report of 3500'. Shortly thereafter the tower reported tower visibility 1/4. Tower again reported 1/4 tower visibility when I was 1-2 mi outside of OM. At no time was I given a new RVR report, therefore I continued since the 3500' RVR is above our minimums. Our FAA approved automated operations specifications dictate that when RVR is available, it is the controling factor. At 100' above DH, I had the entire approach light system in sight, along with the threshold lights, so I landed. Let me state that the controllers in lnk are probably the best group to work with as good as you'll find anywhere. However, I thought I better fill this report out since it would be impractical to expect approach controllers to know and understand the different rules that we as 135 charter pilots and scheduled air carrier's operate by, which gives us the visibility minimums of 1800 RVR or 1/2 mi visibility (ILS). RVR is the controling factor when available. Since the minimum 1800 RVR is well below the reported 3500 RVR, I did nothing wrong. But the next time I get a new low visibility from the tower, I'll ask for a new RVR also, which will eliminate any questions for everyone, including myself. I almost forgot, the minimum for the ILS to 17R in lnk is 1/2 mi visibility, which translates to 2400 RVR, but that 2400 is still well below the reported 3500 RVR that I received.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMA APCH LNDG IN WX WITH TWR VISIBILITY REPORTER BELOW ARPT MINIMUMS FOR LNDG.

Narrative: IT WAS A TRIP FROM COLUMBIA, MO, TO LINCOLN, NE, PART 135 CHARTER. AT DEP TIME FROM COLUMBIA, LINCOLN'S WX WAS 1000' OVCST 2 IN SNOW. APPROX 20 NM NNE OF LNK A NEW ATIS WAS RECEIVED OF WX 100 1/2 SNOW, WITH A RVR RPT OF 3500'. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TWR RPTED TWR VISIBILITY 1/4. TWR AGAIN RPTED 1/4 TWR VISIBILITY WHEN I WAS 1-2 MI OUTSIDE OF OM. AT NO TIME WAS I GIVEN A NEW RVR RPT, THEREFORE I CONTINUED SINCE THE 3500' RVR IS ABOVE OUR MINIMUMS. OUR FAA APPROVED AUTOMATED OPS SPECS DICTATE THAT WHEN RVR IS AVAILABLE, IT IS THE CTLING FACTOR. AT 100' ABOVE DH, I HAD THE ENTIRE APCH LIGHT SYS IN SIGHT, ALONG WITH THE THRESHOLD LIGHTS, SO I LANDED. LET ME STATE THAT THE CTLRS IN LNK ARE PROBABLY THE BEST GROUP TO WORK WITH AS GOOD AS YOU'LL FIND ANYWHERE. HOWEVER, I THOUGHT I BETTER FILL THIS RPT OUT SINCE IT WOULD BE IMPRACTICAL TO EXPECT APCH CTLRS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT RULES THAT WE AS 135 CHARTER PLTS AND SCHEDULED ACR'S OPERATE BY, WHICH GIVES US THE VISIBILITY MINIMUMS OF 1800 RVR OR 1/2 MI VISIBILITY (ILS). RVR IS THE CTLING FACTOR WHEN AVAILABLE. SINCE THE MINIMUM 1800 RVR IS WELL BELOW THE RPTED 3500 RVR, I DID NOTHING WRONG. BUT THE NEXT TIME I GET A NEW LOW VISIBILITY FROM THE TWR, I'LL ASK FOR A NEW RVR ALSO, WHICH WILL ELIMINATE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF. I ALMOST FORGOT, THE MINIMUM FOR THE ILS TO 17R IN LNK IS 1/2 MI VISIBILITY, WHICH TRANSLATES TO 2400 RVR, BUT THAT 2400 IS STILL WELL BELOW THE RPTED 3500 RVR THAT I RECEIVED.

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.