Narrative:

Morning fog had visibility between 1/8 to 1/2 mi. Our operation specifications allows us to utilize the lowest straight-in minimums. Due to runway facility improvements, both ILS system had been shut down for the last month. The localizer had been brought back on line for runway 19R. Runway 19R localizer with radar minimums is 1/2 mi visibility. Approach lights were OTS but not mentioned in the ATIS. They were notamed. It was VFR on top at 1400 ft. I had 3 alternate airports within 1 hour of departure that were either above IFR minimums or VFR. The current visibility was 1/2 mi by the tower. RVR was OTS. I had the end of runway in sight by midfield on takeoff. Runway 19R is a 10000 ft runway. Another air carrier upon my takeoff called FAA to complain that I took off below a mi. This air carrier did not know if I was part 91 or not, but they complained anyway. I did have 2 passenger at the time. The feds pulled tapes from the tower and upon catching wind of this I started questioning why. With approach light OTS the visibility required went up 1/4 mi. I needed 3/4 mi to takeoff with tower reported visibility, but pilot observation at midfield was at least 3/4 mi. Again, runway 19R is a 10000 ft runway. Closer review between company and pilots of possible incursions with so many airport services OTS, both ILS, approach lights, centerline lights, OM, RVR and so on, would possibly have kept this from becoming a problem. No intent was made to bust a minimum to get away with it. FAA sits right across the ramp and certain competitors are too happy to turn you in.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA31 PLT ALLEGED TO HAVE DEPARTED BELOW MINIMUMS ON PART 135 FLT.

Narrative: MORNING FOG HAD VISIBILITY BTWN 1/8 TO 1/2 MI. OUR OP SPECS ALLOWS US TO UTILIZE THE LOWEST STRAIGHT-IN MINIMUMS. DUE TO RWY FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, BOTH ILS SYS HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR THE LAST MONTH. THE LOC HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK ON LINE FOR RWY 19R. RWY 19R LOC WITH RADAR MINIMUMS IS 1/2 MI VISIBILITY. APCH LIGHTS WERE OTS BUT NOT MENTIONED IN THE ATIS. THEY WERE NOTAMED. IT WAS VFR ON TOP AT 1400 FT. I HAD 3 ALTERNATE ARPTS WITHIN 1 HR OF DEP THAT WERE EITHER ABOVE IFR MINIMUMS OR VFR. THE CURRENT VISIBILITY WAS 1/2 MI BY THE TWR. RVR WAS OTS. I HAD THE END OF RWY IN SIGHT BY MIDFIELD ON TKOF. RWY 19R IS A 10000 FT RWY. ANOTHER ACR UPON MY TKOF CALLED FAA TO COMPLAIN THAT I TOOK OFF BELOW A MI. THIS ACR DID NOT KNOW IF I WAS PART 91 OR NOT, BUT THEY COMPLAINED ANYWAY. I DID HAVE 2 PAX AT THE TIME. THE FEDS PULLED TAPES FROM THE TWR AND UPON CATCHING WIND OF THIS I STARTED QUESTIONING WHY. WITH APCH LIGHT OTS THE VISIBILITY REQUIRED WENT UP 1/4 MI. I NEEDED 3/4 MI TO TKOF WITH TWR RPTED VISIBILITY, BUT PLT OBSERVATION AT MIDFIELD WAS AT LEAST 3/4 MI. AGAIN, RWY 19R IS A 10000 FT RWY. CLOSER REVIEW BTWN COMPANY AND PLTS OF POSSIBLE INCURSIONS WITH SO MANY ARPT SVCS OTS, BOTH ILS, APCH LIGHTS, CTRLINE LIGHTS, OM, RVR AND SO ON, WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE KEPT THIS FROM BECOMING A PROB. NO INTENT WAS MADE TO BUST A MINIMUM TO GET AWAY WITH IT. FAA SITS RIGHT ACROSS THE RAMP AND CERTAIN COMPETITORS ARE TOO HAPPY TO TURN YOU IN.

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.