Narrative:

We were cleared for a visibility approach to runway 08L to follow an air carrier whom we called 'in sight.' approach (126.6) told us to contact tower on 118.7. As we turned a 4 mi final at 3100' MSL, airspeed 200 KIAS with no restrictions. Tower told us we were #4 to follow an small aircraft on a downwind. I immediately slowed to 130 KIAS, which was our minimum approach speed as we searched for the small aircraft. We called tower saying, 'air carrier X, we do not have the small aircraft in sight.' tower repeated, 'he's on a left downwind, air carrier X you're cleared the visibility to follow the small aircraft.' the copilot answered, 'how are we going to follow the small aircraft when we can't see him?' tower said, 'he's on a close-in downwind by 2 mi, 11:30, air carrier X you're cleared the visibility to 08L to follow the small aircraft.' we again repeated, 'we do not have the small aircraft in sight. What would you like us to do?' tower answered, 'he's turning a short final, you're cleared the visibility approach.' we both saw the small aircraft for the first time over the #'south. Our altitude was 400' AGL. Tower told the small aircraft to 'expedite off the runway, jet traffic on a 1/2 mi final.' the small aircraft turned off at the second available taxiway with his brakes visibly smoking as we touched down. I had adjusted my aim point for a long landing, anticipating the close sep. This is the second incident I've had in 2 months with phx tower putting an small aircraft uncomfortably close to me which I never had sight of. The first incident I contacted the tower supervisor and his very flippant answer was, 'if you don't like the instructions, then don't accept the clearance.' (I submitted that report to you on 2/X/90.)

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT REPORTER COMPLAINS ABOUT TRAFFIC SEQUENCING AT BUSY ARPT.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 08L TO FOLLOW AN ACR WHOM WE CALLED 'IN SIGHT.' APCH (126.6) TOLD US TO CONTACT TWR ON 118.7. AS WE TURNED A 4 MI FINAL AT 3100' MSL, AIRSPD 200 KIAS WITH NO RESTRICTIONS. TWR TOLD US WE WERE #4 TO FOLLOW AN SMA ON A DOWNWIND. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 130 KIAS, WHICH WAS OUR MINIMUM APCH SPD AS WE SEARCHED FOR THE SMA. WE CALLED TWR SAYING, 'ACR X, WE DO NOT HAVE THE SMA IN SIGHT.' TWR REPEATED, 'HE'S ON A LEFT DOWNWIND, ACR X YOU'RE CLRED THE VIS TO FOLLOW THE SMA.' THE COPLT ANSWERED, 'HOW ARE WE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SMA WHEN WE CAN'T SEE HIM?' TWR SAID, 'HE'S ON A CLOSE-IN DOWNWIND BY 2 MI, 11:30, ACR X YOU'RE CLRED THE VIS TO 08L TO FOLLOW THE SMA.' WE AGAIN REPEATED, 'WE DO NOT HAVE THE SMA IN SIGHT. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO?' TWR ANSWERED, 'HE'S TURNING A SHORT FINAL, YOU'RE CLRED THE VIS APCH.' WE BOTH SAW THE SMA FOR THE FIRST TIME OVER THE #'S. OUR ALT WAS 400' AGL. TWR TOLD THE SMA TO 'EXPEDITE OFF THE RWY, JET TFC ON A 1/2 MI FINAL.' THE SMA TURNED OFF AT THE SECOND AVAILABLE TXWY WITH HIS BRAKES VISIBLY SMOKING AS WE TOUCHED DOWN. I HAD ADJUSTED MY AIM POINT FOR A LONG LNDG, ANTICIPATING THE CLOSE SEP. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT I'VE HAD IN 2 MONTHS WITH PHX TWR PUTTING AN SMA UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO ME WHICH I NEVER HAD SIGHT OF. THE FIRST INCIDENT I CONTACTED THE TWR SUPVR AND HIS VERY FLIPPANT ANSWER WAS, 'IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE INSTRUCTIONS, THEN DON'T ACCEPT THE CLRNC.' (I SUBMITTED THAT RPT TO YOU ON 2/X/90.)

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.