Narrative:

Forecast WX was more than 5000 ft, 5 DME, so no alternate was listed and only 30 mins holding fuel available. Approximately 200 NM from denver, received ATIS of 1/4 mi visibility in snow, broken. Planned for cos as alternate, leaving only 15 mins fuel. Oen approach reported 5000 ft RVR and issued expedited descent to 9000 ft. Approach stopped descent at 11000 ft and issued vectors as RVR was 800 ft, visibility 200 ft. We informed approach approximately 15 mins fuel available. Approximately 10 mins later, approach notified runway 34R, RVR 6000 ft, and issued vectors for approach, but advised long final. We estimated 15 mins to landing, leaving insufficient fuel for cos if RVR dropped again. 3-4 mins later, approach advised runway 35L, RVR 2200 ft, and short vectors. We accepted runway 35L to have fuel for cos or second approach. Approximately 10 NM final, tower advised another aircraft runway 35L, RVR 800 ft. We advised we needed 1800 ft RVR, and tower responded 'continue.' due to minimum fuel, we elected to continue. Should have clarified actual RVR. Approximately 5 NM final, tower advised RVR 800 ft. As we were inside the FAF and RVR was erratic (runway 34R was more than 6000 ft), we continued. First officer called 'lights' at 200 ft AGL and 'runway' at 100 ft AGL. I could see a reverse high-speed (I assumed M4) and determined flight visibility was sufficient to land. Exiting at M6 visibility improved to 1 NM or better. Due to minimum fuel, we wanted to take earliest approach available. Might have been preferable to take the best approach. Actual visibility for approach was unclr due to varying RVR's and ATC response of 'continue.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the captain knew the RVR was going down when he checked the den WX via ACARS about 30 mins prior to descent. Pilot indicated that company dispatch never contacts crews airborne or complies with far's that require dispatcher flight following. The reporter thinks the company does not want to spend the money to have the air carrier operate to reduced minimums. In fact, the air carrier prohibits autoland operation even visually. The flight crew's of this air carrier have requested they be allowed to operate to CAT IIIA minimums. The captain informed the air carrier chief pilot of what happened, yet nothing has changed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 CREW LANDED AT DEN BELOW CAT I RVR MINIMUMS. THE ACR HAS NOT CERTIFIED ITS ACFT OR CREWS FOR CAT II OR CAT III OP.

Narrative: FORECAST WX WAS MORE THAN 5000 FT, 5 DME, SO NO ALTERNATE WAS LISTED AND ONLY 30 MINS HOLDING FUEL AVAILABLE. APPROX 200 NM FROM DENVER, RECEIVED ATIS OF 1/4 MI VISIBILITY IN SNOW, BROKEN. PLANNED FOR COS AS ALTERNATE, LEAVING ONLY 15 MINS FUEL. OEN APCH RPTED 5000 FT RVR AND ISSUED EXPEDITED DSCNT TO 9000 FT. APCH STOPPED DSCNT AT 11000 FT AND ISSUED VECTORS AS RVR WAS 800 FT, VISIBILITY 200 FT. WE INFORMED APCH APPROX 15 MINS FUEL AVAILABLE. APPROX 10 MINS LATER, APCH NOTIFIED RWY 34R, RVR 6000 FT, AND ISSUED VECTORS FOR APCH, BUT ADVISED LONG FINAL. WE ESTIMATED 15 MINS TO LNDG, LEAVING INSUFFICIENT FUEL FOR COS IF RVR DROPPED AGAIN. 3-4 MINS LATER, APCH ADVISED RWY 35L, RVR 2200 FT, AND SHORT VECTORS. WE ACCEPTED RWY 35L TO HAVE FUEL FOR COS OR SECOND APCH. APPROX 10 NM FINAL, TWR ADVISED ANOTHER ACFT RWY 35L, RVR 800 FT. WE ADVISED WE NEEDED 1800 FT RVR, AND TWR RESPONDED 'CONTINUE.' DUE TO MINIMUM FUEL, WE ELECTED TO CONTINUE. SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED ACTUAL RVR. APPROX 5 NM FINAL, TWR ADVISED RVR 800 FT. AS WE WERE INSIDE THE FAF AND RVR WAS ERRATIC (RWY 34R WAS MORE THAN 6000 FT), WE CONTINUED. FO CALLED 'LIGHTS' AT 200 FT AGL AND 'RWY' AT 100 FT AGL. I COULD SEE A REVERSE HIGH-SPD (I ASSUMED M4) AND DETERMINED FLT VISIBILITY WAS SUFFICIENT TO LAND. EXITING AT M6 VISIBILITY IMPROVED TO 1 NM OR BETTER. DUE TO MINIMUM FUEL, WE WANTED TO TAKE EARLIEST APCH AVAILABLE. MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREFERABLE TO TAKE THE BEST APCH. ACTUAL VISIBILITY FOR APCH WAS UNCLR DUE TO VARYING RVR'S AND ATC RESPONSE OF 'CONTINUE.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE CAPT KNEW THE RVR WAS GOING DOWN WHEN HE CHKED THE DEN WX VIA ACARS ABOUT 30 MINS PRIOR TO DSCNT. PLT INDICATED THAT COMPANY DISPATCH NEVER CONTACTS CREWS AIRBORNE OR COMPLIES WITH FAR'S THAT REQUIRE DISPATCHER FLT FOLLOWING. THE RPTR THINKS THE COMPANY DOES NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE THE ACR OPERATE TO REDUCED MINIMUMS. IN FACT, THE ACR PROHIBITS AUTOLAND OP EVEN VISUALLY. THE FLT CREW'S OF THIS ACR HAVE REQUESTED THEY BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE TO CAT IIIA MINIMUMS. THE CAPT INFORMED THE ACR CHIEF PLT OF WHAT HAPPENED, YET NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

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.