Confusion at oak about reported RVR values.

Attributes
ACN	160945
Time
Date	199010
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : oak
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 1800 flight time type : 100
ASRS Report	160945
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

With an air carrier frt large transport Y on the approach (ILS 29) the tower called 0 RVR and noted doubt: 'we're showing 0 RVR, but I don't know about that.' the large transport Y broke out and landed. Sitting at the approach end waiting I could easily see the red end identify lights at the departure end. I was cleared to takeoff. West/O giving a PIREP as to cloud conditions, I departed. As the controller noted doubt at the RVR reading (justifiably), it should be checked, if possible, in IMC. I should have made the report for both the incoming aircraft, myself and the other departures.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CONFUSION AT OAK ABOUT REPORTED RVR VALUES.

Narrative: WITH AN ACR FRT LGT Y ON THE APCH (ILS 29) THE TWR CALLED 0 RVR AND NOTED DOUBT: 'WE'RE SHOWING 0 RVR, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.' THE LGT Y BROKE OUT AND LANDED. SITTING AT THE APCH END WAITING I COULD EASILY SEE THE RED END IDENT LIGHTS AT THE DEP END. I WAS CLRED TO TKOF. W/O GIVING A PIREP AS TO CLOUD CONDITIONS, I DEPARTED. AS THE CTLR NOTED DOUBT AT THE RVR READING (JUSTIFIABLY), IT SHOULD BE CHKED, IF POSSIBLE, IN IMC. I SHOULD HAVE MADE THE RPT FOR BOTH THE INCOMING ACFT, MYSELF AND THE OTHER DEPS.

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.