wrote:
I looked at the weather history on Weather Underground and PVD reported
visibilities in the 0.1 and 0.2 range around midnight that night, below
the standard ILS minimums for PVD. The Cat II and Cat III approaches
(both to ry 5) are not authorized when the tower is not in operation
according to the U.S. Terminal Procedures for PVD.

Now that's interesting. 0.1 to 0.2 statute miles is some 500 to 1000
feet visibility, within the range of the CAT III apporach.

The AOPA airport directory includes this note: "Check NOTAMS, ry 5 to
23 closed for tkf and lndgs & used for full length taxiway & parking of
overnight acft 8 pm to 8 am;"

Huh? Apparently there used to be a runway 5L 23R that no longer exists,
there are some references to its removal in various NOTAMS. Maybe
that's what this refers to, otherwise it doesn't make much sense to
park airplanes on their biggest, best lit runway.

It would be hard for me to criticize the SWA pilots for not landing if
those were the conditions .

Sure, but now it seems the tower's refusal to stay open late may have
had something to do with SWA having to turn around.

Peter