Narrative:

En route to fresno, ca from orange county, ca, we got the fresno ATIS information with a visibility of 1 and one half mi. NDB approachs to 29R sidestepping to 29L were in use. Since NDB approachs are not authority/authorized in our operations specifications, we requested the VOR approach. Approach said there would be a minimum of 30 mins delay for that approach so the captain asked for the NDB approach, even though I said I did not want to do an unauthorized approach. No further WX information was given to us and we completed the approach and landed. Upon reaching the gate, an FAA inspector was waiting to talk to the captain. The inspector said we needed 1 and one half mi to begin the approach and that we only had 1 mi. Ten mins later when we taxied for takeoff, ATIS information was current. Apparently, between our 1ST call to approach when we said we had ATIS information and when we taxied out for takeoff. Possibly next ATIS information had a visibility of 1 mi. One mi visibility is all that is required for the NDB 29R circle to land in category B aircraft. I don't know why the inspector said that we needed 1 and one half mi. I also don't know what else a sic can do when the PIC insists on doing something illegal when he knows the sic does not approve.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR SMT SHOT NDB APCH WHICH IS NOT APPROVED IN THEIR OPERATIONS SPECIFICATIONS.

Narrative: ENRTE TO FRESNO, CA FROM ORANGE COUNTY, CA, WE GOT THE FRESNO ATIS INFO WITH A VISIBILITY OF 1 AND ONE HALF MI. NDB APCHS TO 29R SIDESTEPPING TO 29L WERE IN USE. SINCE NDB APCHS ARE NOT AUTH IN OUR OPS SPECS, WE REQUESTED THE VOR APCH. APCH SAID THERE WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF 30 MINS DELAY FOR THAT APCH SO THE CAPT ASKED FOR THE NDB APCH, EVEN THOUGH I SAID I DID NOT WANT TO DO AN UNAUTH APCH. NO FURTHER WX INFO WAS GIVEN TO US AND WE COMPLETED THE APCH AND LANDED. UPON REACHING THE GATE, AN FAA INSPECTOR WAS WAITING TO TALK TO THE CAPT. THE INSPECTOR SAID WE NEEDED 1 AND ONE HALF MI TO BEGIN THE APCH AND THAT WE ONLY HAD 1 MI. TEN MINS LATER WHEN WE TAXIED FOR TKOF, ATIS INFO WAS CURRENT. APPARENTLY, BTWN OUR 1ST CALL TO APCH WHEN WE SAID WE HAD ATIS INFO AND WHEN WE TAXIED OUT FOR TKOF. POSSIBLY NEXT ATIS INFO HAD A VISIBILITY OF 1 MI. ONE MI VISIBILITY IS ALL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE NDB 29R CIRCLE TO LAND IN CATEGORY B ACFT. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE INSPECTOR SAID THAT WE NEEDED 1 AND ONE HALF MI. I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE A SIC CAN DO WHEN THE PIC INSISTS ON DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL WHEN HE KNOWS THE SIC DOES NOT APPROVE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.