A320 captain reported traffic conflicts resulted in two go-arounds on approach to sfo.

Attributes
ACN	1387941
Time
Date	201609
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
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
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Airbus Industrie Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 210 Flight Crew Total 18000 Flight Crew Type 9500
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

We were performing the visual approach to 28L in sfo. At approximately 2;500 feet AGL; we responded to a TCAS climb RA from an airbus that was landing on 28R. We were left of the 28L centerline and descending on glide path. The [airbus] was well above us by at least 500 feet; gear down; descending in a right turn. There was no possible way the [airbus] aircraft had visual contact with us. We complied with the TCAS climb and executed a missed approach with the tower.on our second approach to 28L; we were left high by norcal while searching for a [second airbus] below us on the visual to 28R. It is hard to gain visual contact on a grey painted aircraft during the period of twilight just before sunset. We were held at 4;000 feet until we could gain visual on the [second airbus]. When we did gain visual; we were instructed to slow to 160 KIAS and fly the visual approach. We were too high to comply; as the approach clearance as it was granted very late. We would not have been able to execute a stabilized approach. We executed a second go around to 28L. There was heavy radio traffic on the single frequency and many radio calls were blocked.our third attempt was vectors for the ILS 28L. We declared minimum fuel in the base turn. A successful approach and landing was made to 28L. We landed with 45 minutes of fuel remaining.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 Captain reported traffic conflicts resulted in two go-arounds on approach to SFO.

Narrative: We were performing the visual approach to 28L in SFO. At approximately 2;500 feet AGL; we responded to a TCAS climb RA from an Airbus that was landing on 28R. We were left of the 28L centerline and descending on glide path. The [Airbus] was well above us by at least 500 feet; gear down; descending in a right turn. There was no possible way the [Airbus] aircraft had visual contact with us. We complied with the TCAS climb and executed a missed approach with the Tower.On our second approach to 28L; we were left high by NORCAL while searching for a [second Airbus] below us on the visual to 28R. It is hard to gain visual contact on a grey painted aircraft during the period of twilight just before sunset. We were held at 4;000 feet until we could gain visual on the [second Airbus]. When we did gain visual; we were instructed to slow to 160 KIAS and fly the visual approach. We were too high to comply; as the approach clearance as it was granted very late. We would not have been able to execute a stabilized approach. We executed a second go around to 28L. There was heavy radio traffic on the single frequency and many radio calls were blocked.Our third attempt was vectors for the ILS 28L. We declared minimum fuel in the base turn. A successful approach and landing was made to 28L. We landed with 45 minutes of fuel remaining.

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.