An air carrier medium large transport landed with proper minimum WX reported by sjc ATCT. The reporter is having second thoughts about the approach. Sjc has no RVR, so tower visibility and RVV is controling and sufficient.

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Attributes
ACN	353300
Time
Date	199611
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sjc tower : sjc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8500 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	353300
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Weather
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

Arrived at hyp VOR with sjc ATIS calm winds, 1/8 mi visibility in fog, 200 ft overcast, temperature 9 degrees, dewpoint 9 degrees, altimeter 30.04, ILS runway 12R. Because the visibility was below the 1/2 mi required by the approach, we entered holding. After about 30 mins in holding, center called us and said the WX had improved and was at least 1/2 mi. We began our descent and briefed the ILS approach and missed approach procedures. Since the ATIS was unchanged, I again asked approach what the WX at sjc was doing. Approach stated that runway 12R had an RVV of 3000 ft. Since the approach requires 1/2 mi, I asked if the RVV was 1/2 mi. Approach replied that it was better than 1/2 mi. Based on the available information, we started the ILS. On final, tower cleared us to land and again reported an RVV of 3000 ft as reported by an MD80. Since we had started the approach under the assumption of 1/2 mi of visibility we continued and did land. We broke out right at minimums. Several other aircraft made more than 1 attempt to get in.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG LANDED WITH PROPER MINIMUM WX RPTED BY SJC ATCT. THE RPTR IS HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE APCH. SJC HAS NO RVR, SO TWR VISIBILITY AND RVV IS CTLING AND SUFFICIENT.

Narrative: ARRIVED AT HYP VOR WITH SJC ATIS CALM WINDS, 1/8 MI VISIBILITY IN FOG, 200 FT OVCST, TEMP 9 DEGS, DEWPOINT 9 DEGS, ALTIMETER 30.04, ILS RWY 12R. BECAUSE THE VISIBILITY WAS BELOW THE 1/2 MI REQUIRED BY THE APCH, WE ENTERED HOLDING. AFTER ABOUT 30 MINS IN HOLDING, CTR CALLED US AND SAID THE WX HAD IMPROVED AND WAS AT LEAST 1/2 MI. WE BEGAN OUR DSCNT AND BRIEFED THE ILS APCH AND MISSED APCH PROCS. SINCE THE ATIS WAS UNCHANGED, I AGAIN ASKED APCH WHAT THE WX AT SJC WAS DOING. APCH STATED THAT RWY 12R HAD AN RVV OF 3000 FT. SINCE THE APCH REQUIRES 1/2 MI, I ASKED IF THE RVV WAS 1/2 MI. APCH REPLIED THAT IT WAS BETTER THAN 1/2 MI. BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFO, WE STARTED THE ILS. ON FINAL, TWR CLRED US TO LAND AND AGAIN RPTED AN RVV OF 3000 FT AS RPTED BY AN MD80. SINCE WE HAD STARTED THE APCH UNDER THE ASSUMPTION OF 1/2 MI OF VISIBILITY WE CONTINUED AND DID LAND. WE BROKE OUT RIGHT AT MINIMUMS. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT MADE MORE THAN 1 ATTEMPT TO GET 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.