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Flight crew of large transport being vectored for a parallel visual approach to sfo momentarily lost the preceding aircraft in the sun.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 128669 |
| Time | |
| Date | 198911 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : sfo |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : oak artcc : zoa |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach descent other |
| Route In Use | enroute : on vectors |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 165 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 6500 |
| ASRS Report | 128669 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : atp pilot : commercial |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
Narrative:
Descending wbound to sfo for quiet bridge approach to sfo (visual approach for runway 28R). Parallel apches in progress for 28L. Was given a vectoring turn to 180 degree. Traffic was given by approach at 12 O'clock 7 mi for 28L. We acknowledged the traffic. We were given a 250 heading, which we turned to, speed reduced from 210K to 150K. We were then given clearance for visual to 28R and maintain separation with other aircraft that was visual for 28L. At this time we had to tighten up our turn not to overshoot the inbound radial. At the same time the other aircraft disappeared into the sun which was directly behind the other aircraft. The approach was continued with no incident. This could have become a very hazardous situation had I lost the aircraft in the sun earlier. At this particular time of day, I would suggest a more shallow vectoring turn before a visual clearance is given or accepted.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: FLT CREW OF LGT BEING VECTORED FOR A PARALLEL VISUAL APCH TO SFO MOMENTARILY LOST THE PRECEDING ACFT IN THE SUN.
Narrative: DESCENDING WBOUND TO SFO FOR QUIET BRIDGE APCH TO SFO (VISUAL APCH FOR RWY 28R). PARALLEL APCHES IN PROGRESS FOR 28L. WAS GIVEN A VECTORING TURN TO 180 DEG. TFC WAS GIVEN BY APCH AT 12 O'CLOCK 7 MI FOR 28L. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE TFC. WE WERE GIVEN A 250 HDG, WHICH WE TURNED TO, SPEED REDUCED FROM 210K TO 150K. WE WERE THEN GIVEN CLRNC FOR VISUAL TO 28R AND MAINTAIN SEPARATION WITH OTHER ACFT THAT WAS VISUAL FOR 28L. AT THIS TIME WE HAD TO TIGHTEN UP OUR TURN NOT TO OVERSHOOT THE INBND RADIAL. AT THE SAME TIME THE OTHER ACFT DISAPPEARED INTO THE SUN WHICH WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND THE OTHER ACFT. THE APCH WAS CONTINUED WITH NO INCIDENT. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION HAD I LOST THE ACFT IN THE SUN EARLIER. AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME OF DAY, I WOULD SUGGEST A MORE SHALLOW VECTORING TURN BEFORE A VISUAL CLRNC IS GIVEN OR ACCEPTED.
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.