Narrative:

Upon entering baltimore approach airspace; I was given the RVR readings for runway 10. I was unable to accept an approach clearance because I am a high minimums captain (CAT I only). Since the winds were calm; I inquired about runway 15R RVR. It was above 2400 RVR required for the approach. We were vectored onto the approach to runway 15R; but it went below minimums before reaching the FAF. We also received an ACARS message from dispatch who was aware that I was a high minimums captain; to go ahead and ask for runway 15R; since it was indicating 2600 RVR. ATC allowed us to hold at the FAF with the intention of flying the approach as soon as it came back up to minimums. After one turn in holding; RVR was reported at 3000 RVR. I accepted the approach. However; when we switched to tower; they asked us if we were aware of the NOTAM'ed approach minimums of RVR 4000 ft for runway 15R. At that point; I notified tower that we could no longer continue this approach. We were given vectors and diverted to iad. I should have studied the airport NOTAM a lot more closely and been aware of runway 15R NOTAM. I also feel dispatch should also have been aware of the NOTAMS. I also think that our first officer's ought to be looking at the WX package a lot more closely. I think this could be installed during their initial training. I have learned that taking a few extra mins reading and familiarizing myself with the NOTAMS can save such mistakes from occurring.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 CREW FAILED TO READ ALL APPLICABLE ARPT NOTAMS AND BEGAN AN ILS TO A RWY WITH HIGHER MINIMUMS THAN LISTED ON THE CURRENT APCH PLATE.

Narrative: UPON ENTERING BALTIMORE APCH AIRSPACE; I WAS GIVEN THE RVR READINGS FOR RWY 10. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCEPT AN APCH CLRNC BECAUSE I AM A HIGH MINIMUMS CAPT (CAT I ONLY). SINCE THE WINDS WERE CALM; I INQUIRED ABOUT RWY 15R RVR. IT WAS ABOVE 2400 RVR REQUIRED FOR THE APCH. WE WERE VECTORED ONTO THE APCH TO RWY 15R; BUT IT WENT BELOW MINIMUMS BEFORE REACHING THE FAF. WE ALSO RECEIVED AN ACARS MESSAGE FROM DISPATCH WHO WAS AWARE THAT I WAS A HIGH MINIMUMS CAPT; TO GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR RWY 15R; SINCE IT WAS INDICATING 2600 RVR. ATC ALLOWED US TO HOLD AT THE FAF WITH THE INTENTION OF FLYING THE APCH AS SOON AS IT CAME BACK UP TO MINIMUMS. AFTER ONE TURN IN HOLDING; RVR WAS RPTED AT 3000 RVR. I ACCEPTED THE APCH. HOWEVER; WHEN WE SWITCHED TO TWR; THEY ASKED US IF WE WERE AWARE OF THE NOTAM'ED APCH MINIMUMS OF RVR 4000 FT FOR RWY 15R. AT THAT POINT; I NOTIFIED TWR THAT WE COULD NO LONGER CONTINUE THIS APCH. WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS AND DIVERTED TO IAD. I SHOULD HAVE STUDIED THE ARPT NOTAM A LOT MORE CLOSELY AND BEEN AWARE OF RWY 15R NOTAM. I ALSO FEEL DISPATCH SHOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE NOTAMS. I ALSO THINK THAT OUR FO'S OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT THE WX PACKAGE A LOT MORE CLOSELY. I THINK THIS COULD BE INSTALLED DURING THEIR INITIAL TRAINING. I HAVE LEARNED THAT TAKING A FEW EXTRA MINS READING AND FAMILIARIZING MYSELF WITH THE NOTAMS CAN SAVE SUCH MISTAKES FROM OCCURRING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.