Air carrier X TCASII RA equipment turned off because of flight crew distraction noisy cockpit.

Attributes
ACN	189210
Time
Date	199108
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sjc
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 2000 flight time type : 480
ASRS Report	189210
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Air carrier X on final approach into sjc. Initially on the localizer 30L then cleared for the visual 30L. Visibility was somewhat limited in front due to haze and setting sun. Problem: close proximity of other aircraft on final. About 10 NM out we were told about commuter plane on our right landing 30R. We picked him up visually as he turned final. Commuter was now abeam on the right side at same speed. Now TCASII gives us an RA (resolution advisory) to climb for traffic. We initially leveled till we could see from TCASII display it was the commuter aircraft. ATC gives TA for an small aircraft turning final for runway 29. TCASII follows with TA (traffic advisory) on same small aircraft. We picked up small aircraft visually about 4-5 NM out of sjc and passed on the right. We turned the TCASII off so we could hear each other. We realized that we accepted responsibility for separation by accepting the visual approach. Our contention is why did ATC put us in the situation. We both were very uneasy and distracted during a critical phase of flight. Flying into sjc you nearly always have another aircraft flying final with you, but being put in between 2 is very uncomfortable.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TCASII RA EQUIP TURNED OFF BECAUSE OF FLC DISTR NOISY COCKPIT.

Narrative: ACR X ON FINAL APCH INTO SJC. INITIALLY ON THE LOC 30L THEN CLRED FOR THE VISUAL 30L. VISIBILITY WAS SOMEWHAT LIMITED IN FRONT DUE TO HAZE AND SETTING SUN. PROBLEM: CLOSE PROX OF OTHER ACFT ON FINAL. ABOUT 10 NM OUT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT COMMUTER PLANE ON OUR R LNDG 30R. WE PICKED HIM UP VISUALLY AS HE TURNED FINAL. COMMUTER WAS NOW ABEAM ON THE R SIDE AT SAME SPD. NOW TCASII GIVES US AN RA (RESOLUTION ADVISORY) TO CLB FOR TFC. WE INITIALLY LEVELED TILL WE COULD SEE FROM TCASII DISPLAY IT WAS THE COMMUTER ACFT. ATC GIVES TA FOR AN SMA TURNING FINAL FOR RWY 29. TCASII FOLLOWS WITH TA (TFC ADVISORY) ON SAME SMA. WE PICKED UP SMA VISUALLY ABOUT 4-5 NM OUT OF SJC AND PASSED ON THE R. WE TURNED THE TCASII OFF SO WE COULD HEAR EACH OTHER. WE REALIZED THAT WE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEPARATION BY ACCEPTING THE VISUAL APCH. OUR CONTENTION IS WHY DID ATC PUT US IN THE SITUATION. WE BOTH WERE VERY UNEASY AND DISTRACTED DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLT. FLYING INTO SJC YOU NEARLY ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER ACFT FLYING FINAL WITH YOU, BUT BEING PUT IN BTWN 2 IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

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.