Narrative:

Proceeding to ida VOR as filed. When we reported ida airport ZLC (134.5) turned us 20-30 degree right, stating 'vectors for visual runway 20 ida.' approximately abeam approach end of runway 20 (5 mi and 6000 AGL), ZLC center asked if we still had the airport. When we responded yes, he called traffic, cleared us for the visual 20 and switched us to ida tower (118.5). We did not have traffic visually but were showing it on TCASII (in TA/RA active mode). Air carrier X extended downwind, turning crosswind at beacon. I elected to hold left of localizer course for runway 20 because of TCASII target indications. We still did not have traffic visually. First officer switched us to tower frequency within a moment or 2 of being cleared by ZLC center. We heard ida tower tell the traffic (small aircraft Y) that air carrier X had just 'popped' up and to break off his approach. At approximately same time, TCASII issued a TA on small aircraft Y. Neither of us ever saw him, but TCASII indicated closest approach was 1 mi/400 ft. No RA was issued by TCASII. According to tower, ZLC had not advised him we were in his area and he did not have us visually. He stated normal procedure was for ZLC to bring aircraft on a 3000 ft AGL downwind, pass it on to ida tower. Then switch aircraft to tower. Tower then issued clearance for the visual. I elected to continue the approach. We were cleared for by ZLC though we didn't have the traffic visually. TCASII assured us adequate separation. Apparently, there was a communications breakdown between ZLC center and ida tower, resulting in a breakdown of normal, but unpublished procedures.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X HAD CONFLICT WITH SMA Y WHILE ON VISUAL APCH TO IDA ARPT. SEE AND AVOID CONCEPT. ARTCC RADAR CTLR FAILED TO ARTCC ATCT INTERFAC COORD ACR X WITH IDA TWR PRIOR TO CHANGING THE ACFT TO TWR FREQ. OPDEV.

Narrative: PROCEEDING TO IDA VOR AS FILED. WHEN WE RPTED IDA ARPT ZLC (134.5) TURNED US 20-30 DEG R, STATING 'VECTORS FOR VISUAL RWY 20 IDA.' APPROX ABEAM APCH END OF RWY 20 (5 MI AND 6000 AGL), ZLC CENTER ASKED IF WE STILL HAD THE ARPT. WHEN WE RESPONDED YES, HE CALLED TFC, CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL 20 AND SWITCHED US TO IDA TWR (118.5). WE DID NOT HAVE TFC VISUALLY BUT WERE SHOWING IT ON TCASII (IN TA/RA ACTIVE MODE). ACR X EXTENDED DOWNWIND, TURNING XWIND AT BEACON. I ELECTED TO HOLD L OF LOC COURSE FOR RWY 20 BECAUSE OF TCASII TARGET INDICATIONS. WE STILL DID NOT HAVE TFC VISUALLY. FO SWITCHED US TO TWR FREQ WITHIN A MOMENT OR 2 OF BEING CLRED BY ZLC CENTER. WE HEARD IDA TWR TELL THE TFC (SMA Y) THAT ACR X HAD JUST 'POPPED' UP AND TO BREAK OFF HIS APCH. AT APPROX SAME TIME, TCASII ISSUED A TA ON SMA Y. NEITHER OF US EVER SAW HIM, BUT TCASII INDICATED CLOSEST APCH WAS 1 MI/400 FT. NO RA WAS ISSUED BY TCASII. ACCORDING TO TWR, ZLC HAD NOT ADVISED HIM WE WERE IN HIS AREA AND HE DID NOT HAVE US VISUALLY. HE STATED NORMAL PROC WAS FOR ZLC TO BRING ACFT ON A 3000 FT AGL DOWNWIND, PASS IT ON TO IDA TWR. THEN SWITCH ACFT TO TWR. TWR THEN ISSUED CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL. I ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APCH. WE WERE CLRED FOR BY ZLC THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TFC VISUALLY. TCASII ASSURED US ADEQUATE SEPARATION. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A COMS BREAKDOWN BTWN ZLC CENTER AND IDA TWR, RESULTING IN A BREAKDOWN OF NORMAL, BUT UNPUBLISHED PROCS.

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.