Crew shoots a CAT III approach at the request of their company.

Attributes
ACN	233871
Time
Date	199302
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dfw
State Reference	TX
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : dfw tower : dsm
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 700
ASRS Report	233871
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Chart Or Publication
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Landing at dfw, in response to air carrier request to exercise autoland system, we executed an autoland. Our F-4 messages indicated a recent prohibition by FAA which stated no CAT III approachs by medium large transport aircraft. Since the WX was reported 600 overcast, 5 mi visibility, we determined such a maneuver to be legal and in compliance with the restriction. This report is submitted in case there is a question of interpretation regarding the FAA prohibition of CAT III approach for medium large transport aircraft. If this is the case, corrective action would be a clrer, more comprehensive definition of the prohibition by FAA. Further, air carrier company procedure should not request such a procedure when prohibited.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CREW SHOOTS A CAT III APCH AT THE REQUEST OF THEIR COMPANY.

Narrative: LNDG AT DFW, IN RESPONSE TO ACR REQUEST TO EXERCISE AUTOLAND SYS, WE EXECUTED AN AUTOLAND. OUR F-4 MESSAGES INDICATED A RECENT PROHIBITION BY FAA WHICH STATED NO CAT III APCHS BY MLG ACFT. SINCE THE WX WAS RPTED 600 OVCST, 5 MI VISIBILITY, WE DETERMINED SUCH A MANEUVER TO BE LEGAL AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESTRICTION. THIS RPT IS SUBMITTED IN CASE THERE IS A QUESTION OF INTERP REGARDING THE FAA PROHIBITION OF CAT III APCH FOR MLG ACFT. IF THIS IS THE CASE, CORRECTIVE ACTION WOULD BE A CLRER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION OF THE PROHIBITION BY FAA. FURTHER, ACR COMPANY PROC SHOULD NOT REQUEST SUCH A PROC WHEN PROHIBITED.

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.