While conducting a visual approach to elp runway 22 a B737 was kept high by ATC for traffic inbound ...

Narrative:

My observations [as a check airman] on the jumpseat. We were cleared for the visual to runway 22 in elp; maintain 6;000 ft until joining final for traffic at biggs [bif AFB; just north of elp]. Bif taxiway and runway lights were on full bright for some reason (very distracting to me). Elp's lights were normal. I kept looking for traffic at bif but did not see anyone. The elp runway 22 was in a black hole behind bif's bright lights. By complying with the 6;000 ft until final; we were high (high enough that we were not stable by 1;000 ft and following our procedures we went around). I was watching the crew reconfiguring the aircraft; changing flap settings and setting speeds; and discussing what altitude and headings to fly. ATC; I think asked; if we needed vectors or [to] fly the pattern and the crew stated they could fly the pattern. We turned to the left and got a traffic alert. The captain questioned the alert with the tower. I knew bif was to our right and had traffic and high terrain was also to our right. I was not aware of any other traffic at elp; only traffic at bif. I do not recall any ATC clearance for traffic '...fly heading... Maintain... Altitude.' I thought we were just to turn left enter a left downwind to [runway] 22. The crew re-entered the runway into the CDU. We flew the pattern; landed on [runway] 22; and taxied to the gate. Bif's lights were still full bright and distracting making it hard to see elp runway 22. ATC did not mention anything about any possible violation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: While conducting a visual approach to ELP Runway 22 a B737 was kept high by ATC for traffic inbound to the adjacent BIF AFB. A missed approach was initiated when they were unable to achieve required stabilized approach criteria during which a TCAS TA occurred.

Narrative: My observations [as a Check Airman] on the jumpseat. We were cleared for the visual to Runway 22 in ELP; maintain 6;000 FT until joining final for traffic at Biggs [BIF AFB; just north of ELP]. BIF taxiway and runway lights were on full bright for some reason (very distracting to me). ELP's lights were normal. I kept looking for traffic at BIF but did not see anyone. The ELP Runway 22 was in a black hole behind BIF's bright lights. By complying with the 6;000 FT until final; we were high (high enough that we were not stable by 1;000 FT and following our procedures we went around). I was watching the crew reconfiguring the aircraft; changing flap settings and setting speeds; and discussing what altitude and headings to fly. ATC; I think asked; if we needed vectors or [to] fly the pattern and the crew stated they could fly the pattern. We turned to the left and got a Traffic Alert. The Captain questioned the alert with the Tower. I knew BIF was to our right and had traffic and high terrain was also to our right. I was not aware of any other traffic at ELP; only traffic at BIF. I do not recall any ATC clearance for traffic '...fly heading... maintain... altitude.' I thought we were just to turn left enter a left downwind to [Runway] 22. The crew re-entered the runway into the CDU. We flew the pattern; landed on [Runway] 22; and taxied to the gate. BIF's lights were still full bright and distracting making it hard to see ELP Runway 22. ATC did not mention anything about any possible violation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1160983
Time
Date	201403
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ELP.Airport
State Reference	TX
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Check Pilot Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Clearance Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

While conducting a visual approach to elp runway 22 a B737 was kept high by ATC for traffic inbound to the adjacent bif AFB. A missed approach was initiated when they were unable to achieve required stabilized approach criteria during which a TCAS TA occurred.