Air carrier captain made takeoff on one of 2 parallel runways with less instrument and lighting guid...

Attributes
ACN	204181
Time
Date	199203
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : sea
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 9600 flight time type : 1600
ASRS Report	204181
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

RVR on 16R at sea was below takeoff mins (6, 6, 6) so we waited by gate for about 1 hour. After RVR came up to takeoff mins, we and many other aircraft taxied out. Aircraft were using 16R for takeoff, but then tower told the aircraft ahead of us that 16L had RVR (approximately) 3000, 2000, 1200 and asked if he could use 16L. He did, and tower asked us the same. Our chart only showed one RVR for takeoff (1600). Since the previous aircraft had accepted 16L, and since the first 2/3 of the runway had over 1600 RVR, and the fact I could see an aircraft down field cross the runway beyond where we would lift- off, I accepted 16L and made an uneventful takeoff. During cruise I started to wonder about the legality of what I had done. Searching through our manual showed that only the touchdown RVR is controling in this situation, and so we were legal. But I did a dumb thing -- since there was a bit of doubt in my mind, I should have requested 16R, even though it was foggier, it was definitely legal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT MADE TKOF ON ONE OF 2 PARALLEL RWYS WITH LESS INST AND LIGHTING GUIDANCE EQUIP AVAILABLE IN MIN RVR WX CONDITIONS.

Narrative: RVR ON 16R AT SEA WAS BELOW TKOF MINS (6, 6, 6) SO WE WAITED BY GATE FOR ABOUT 1 HR. AFTER RVR CAME UP TO TKOF MINS, WE AND MANY OTHER ACFT TAXIED OUT. ACFT WERE USING 16R FOR TKOF, BUT THEN TWR TOLD THE ACFT AHEAD OF US THAT 16L HAD RVR (APPROX) 3000, 2000, 1200 AND ASKED IF HE COULD USE 16L. HE DID, AND TWR ASKED US THE SAME. OUR CHART ONLY SHOWED ONE RVR FOR TKOF (1600). SINCE THE PREVIOUS ACFT HAD ACCEPTED 16L, AND SINCE THE FIRST 2/3 OF THE RWY HAD OVER 1600 RVR, AND THE FACT I COULD SEE AN ACFT DOWN FIELD CROSS THE RWY BEYOND WHERE WE WOULD LIFT- OFF, I ACCEPTED 16L AND MADE AN UNEVENTFUL TKOF. DURING CRUISE I STARTED TO WONDER ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF WHAT I HAD DONE. SEARCHING THROUGH OUR MANUAL SHOWED THAT ONLY THE TOUCHDOWN RVR IS CTLING IN THIS SITUATION, AND SO WE WERE LEGAL. BUT I DID A DUMB THING -- SINCE THERE WAS A BIT OF DOUBT IN MY MIND, I SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED 16R, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FOGGIER, IT WAS DEFINITELY LEGAL.

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.

Air carrier captain made takeoff on one of 2 parallel runways with less instrument and lighting guidance equipment available in min RVR WX conditions.