A320 flight crew on final approach reported a heavy B787 turning short final above them. The flight ...

Attributes
ACN	1367853
Time
Date	201606
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B787 Dreamliner Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Type 201
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Experience	Flight Crew Total 3050 Flight Crew Type 3050
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude

Narrative:

On the FMS bridge visual to 28R at sfo; I was on the course outside of the san mateo bridge when approach called traffic; a heavy 787 turning short final to 28L. I picked up the visual on the heavy in his base turn just outside of the san mateo bridge; but lost him above the windscreen shortly thereafter. The captain had sight at all times and commented that while we were high but correcting; he was extremely high. We were switched to tower and checked in. At some point; tower asked the 787 if approach had instructed him to follow behind the airbus; us; and he replied affirmatively. Tower then told him to start slowing immediately. The captain made another remark about how close he was and shortly thereafter; we got a 'descend' RA. I complied as best I could; but we only had 1;000 feet to work with. The captain relayed to tower that we were complying with an RA; but tower misunderstood and asked to say again. Suspecting a go around; I took one last look out to the left of the aircraft to see if the RA was still valid; and immediately saw the 787 above; slightly ahead and in a left hand turn to align with the runway. I estimate the separation at no more than 500 feet. We executed the go around and landed uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 flight crew on final approach reported a heavy B787 turning short final above them. The flight crew received a RA to descend; and executed a go-around.

Narrative: On the FMS Bridge Visual to 28R at SFO; I was on the course outside of the San Mateo Bridge when Approach called traffic; a heavy 787 turning short final to 28L. I picked up the visual on the heavy in his base turn just outside of the San Mateo bridge; but lost him above the windscreen shortly thereafter. The Captain had sight at all times and commented that while we were high but correcting; he was extremely high. We were switched to Tower and checked in. At some point; Tower asked the 787 if approach had instructed him to follow behind the Airbus; us; and he replied affirmatively. Tower then told him to start slowing immediately. The Captain made another remark about how close he was and shortly thereafter; we got a 'descend' RA. I complied as best I could; but we only had 1;000 feet to work with. The Captain relayed to Tower that we were complying with an RA; but Tower misunderstood and asked to say again. Suspecting a go around; I took one last look out to the left of the aircraft to see if the RA was still valid; and immediately saw the 787 above; slightly ahead and in a left hand turn to align with the runway. I estimate the separation at no more than 500 feet. We executed the go around and landed uneventfully.

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.