This is really interesting, because as casey stated our FOM allows us to apply our reductions as long as the depicted minimums for the runway are lower than 1 SM/5000 RVR and have no ceiling requirement. Our FOM clearly spells this out. I guess it's just a difference in our opspecs.
and its not just our FOM, its in the opspec. for you guys that dont think you can take off, which opspec do you guys use for reducing takeoff mins? if its C056, then you guys need to re-read your opspecs and FOM (or get it corrected).
You guys are getting hung up over what is printed on the charts, the only thing that matters is the published value, and whether or not it is equal to standard (5000 / 1sm), lower than standard, more than standard or has ceiling requirement.
Per the OP SPEC, if the value is not published, pubished and equal to standard or published and lower than standard, then you may reduce takeoff minimums. Now you are saying the published mins are 1600rvr, so what. The OP SPEC authorizes me to reduce takeoff minimums per our op specs, not what is printed on the chart. SO, if the the takeoff mins are published 5000rvr or lower, then i may apply the OP SPECs to reduce takeoff visibility to either 600 rvr, 1000 rvr or 1600 rvr, the process and requirements of which are defined by our OP SPECs and laid out in our FOM.
In short, your op specs override the chart. If this is difficult to understand just take a look at derived alternate minimums. The regs lay out a very easy and concrete method to determine alternate mins. Why can you depart with an alternate calling 400-1? that is against the regs. the answer is that the op specs that allow derived alternate minimums have precedence over the regs. Same thing with reduced visibility takeoffs, the op spec has priority over any reduced value printed on the charts by jeppesen.
I dont care what the chart says, if it says 1600 rvr required, 2000 rvr required, 5000 rvr, 1/4 sm, 1/2sm or 1sm, any of those, if i have the necessary equipment i can takeoff at 600 rvr. if i dont have enough for that, perhaps i can do 1000 rvr, and if not enough fo that then 1600 rvr. I can do this because i am authorized by my FOM which outlines the procedure authorized by OP SPEC C056.
If however, the published takeoff mins are 5001 rvr, 1 1/4 sm, 2 sm, 1600rvr - 2000ft ceiling, etc, then i have to use what is published and i may not reduce it.
In short, if your company has C056 the pilot A is right, if it does not then pilot B may be right.