Narrative:

For flight into cvg, a gate hold is often received during VMC WX. This day we blocked out on time with IFR clearance to cvg. We taxied 20' or so when ground control stopped us with the news that cvg had stopped inbound departures. They checked several times during the next 15 mins. I contacted our day operations to call dispatch to see if they could facilitate our departure. Toward the end of the approximately 15 min day operations dispatch said to come to cvg VFR. I asked first officer to get the operations manual/specifications to check on pt 121 VFR. We rapidly read the appropriate material and determined that it was allowed. We were uncomfortable about it. A further call from day operations said, 'per chief pilot.' so we decided to go. I requested our clearance to be changed to VFR, 4500'. I received new departure information out of day. Having just flown into day we knew 8500' would put us in the clouds as well as 6500'. Our dispatch release had WX at day 34 0 8, 56/40, 2712, 30.13 and we had ATIS the same. The release gave cvg as 45 0 15. We departed and conducted the flight 4500' VFR uneventfully. On a later flight that day I read in my operations manual/specifications the appropriate section which I have highlighted. To my surprise I now saw flight to be 6000-12000' or 3000' AGL, whichever is greater!! 4500' was the wrong altitude. Factors: continuing frustration with cvg ATC traffic handling. Desire to operate on time and get passenger to their connections. Not carefully reading my own manual which is highlighted (the copy is very small and not perfectly clear in print). Dispatch release and station providing old WX. This was my only part 121 VFR flight and my last! I felt tension wondering if cvg would accept our inbound flight; they did reply to remain clear briefly. We complied. To try to circumvent the fir system by plying part 121 VFR is not a good idea.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: COMMUTER LTT FLEW 121 FLT NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACR OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS.

Narrative: FOR FLT INTO CVG, A GATE HOLD IS OFTEN RECEIVED DURING VMC WX. THIS DAY WE BLOCKED OUT ON TIME WITH IFR CLRNC TO CVG. WE TAXIED 20' OR SO WHEN GND CTL STOPPED US WITH THE NEWS THAT CVG HAD STOPPED INBND DEPS. THEY CHKED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE NEXT 15 MINS. I CONTACTED OUR DAY OPS TO CALL DISPATCH TO SEE IF THEY COULD FACILITATE OUR DEP. TOWARD THE END OF THE APPROX 15 MIN DAY OPS DISPATCH SAID TO COME TO CVG VFR. I ASKED F/O TO GET THE OPS MANUAL/SPECS TO CHK ON PT 121 VFR. WE RAPIDLY READ THE APPROPRIATE MATERIAL AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS ALLOWED. WE WERE UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT IT. A FURTHER CALL FROM DAY OPS SAID, 'PER CHIEF PLT.' SO WE DECIDED TO GO. I REQUESTED OUR CLRNC TO BE CHANGED TO VFR, 4500'. I RECEIVED NEW DEP INFO OUT OF DAY. HAVING JUST FLOWN INTO DAY WE KNEW 8500' WOULD PUT US IN THE CLOUDS AS WELL AS 6500'. OUR DISPATCH RELEASE HAD WX AT DAY 34 0 8, 56/40, 2712, 30.13 AND WE HAD ATIS THE SAME. THE RELEASE GAVE CVG AS 45 0 15. WE DEPARTED AND CONDUCTED THE FLT 4500' VFR UNEVENTFULLY. ON A LATER FLT THAT DAY I READ IN MY OPS MANUAL/SPECS THE APPROPRIATE SECTION WHICH I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED. TO MY SURPRISE I NOW SAW FLT TO BE 6000-12000' OR 3000' AGL, WHICHEVER IS GREATER!! 4500' WAS THE WRONG ALT. FACTORS: CONTINUING FRUSTRATION WITH CVG ATC TFC HANDLING. DESIRE TO OPERATE ON TIME AND GET PAX TO THEIR CONNECTIONS. NOT CAREFULLY READING MY OWN MANUAL WHICH IS HIGHLIGHTED (THE COPY IS VERY SMALL AND NOT PERFECTLY CLEAR IN PRINT). DISPATCH RELEASE AND STATION PROVIDING OLD WX. THIS WAS MY ONLY PART 121 VFR FLT AND MY LAST! I FELT TENSION WONDERING IF CVG WOULD ACCEPT OUR INBND FLT; THEY DID REPLY TO REMAIN CLR BRIEFLY. WE COMPLIED. TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE FIR SYS BY PLYING PART 121 VFR IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.

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.