When must pilots use published takeoff minimums?

• A. All of the above
• B. No alternate procedure is prescribed
• C. The published visibility is greater than standard
• D. A ceiling is published

Answer: (A)

In Part 135 operations, takeoff minimums published for an airport are binding and must be used to determine if a takeoff is permissible. These minimums define the required visibility and ceiling (or RVR) for a takeoff and are in effect whenever they exist, not just in special cases.

Why this answer fits: If no alternate procedure is prescribed, you rely on the published takeoff minimums rather than standard minima. If the published minimum visibility is greater than standard, you must meet that higher value rather than using the standard, because the operator’s published minima are the controlling rule. If a minimum ceiling is published, that ceiling becomes part of the required takeoff criteria, so you must have at least that ceiling to depart. Taken together, any of these situations means you apply the published takeoff minimums, so all of them illustrate when you must use them.