Narrative:

Air carrier X flying the big sur 1 arrival into sfo, we were given a descent to 6000 ft after passing boulder. (Oak 151 degrees radial at 34 NM). I knew that 2 heavy aircraft were in the vicinity but did not see either one. After we reported the field in sight, we were cleared for the tiptoe visual to runway 28L. I then heard approach tell air carrier Y, a 747, to 'expect base turn in 10 mi for the visual to runway 28R.' I told the first officer that I saw a potential join-up developing. Approach then slowed us to 180 KTS. I spotted the B747 on a high downwind for runway 28R. The B747 reported the field and us in sight (after he was given a heading of 230 degrees) and was cleared for the visual to runway 28R. Because the 747 was heading directly at us and above us, I asked approach (in response to their query if I had the 747 in sight), 'what are his intentions?' approach said 'he's a visual for the right and you're for the left.' since this was obviously an intentional join-up with wingtip-to-wingtip flying, I said, 'I want to be in front of the 747.' approach said, 'you will be. He will maintain visual on you.' it was obvious to me that 180 KTS would not keep me in front, so I increased to 200 KTS to get some separation, and then commenced slowing to stay behind another 747 on short final for the right 4 mi ahead. I told the first officer that I would stay 2 dots high with a little extra speed (wind was 310 degrees at 19 KTS and low level windshear advisories were in effect). I also told the copilot to tell me if the Y 747 was about to pass us, because I would be going around. I made a high approach and long landing and still felt the 747's vortices. Charted visuals are unsafe. Had the Y 747 and us followed the controller's instructions, a very hazardous situation, (overshoot, mid-air collision, wake vortex upset) may have occurred.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X NON ADHERENCE TO ATC INSTRUCTIONS.

Narrative: ACR X FLYING THE BIG SUR 1 ARR INTO SFO, WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT TO 6000 FT AFTER PASSING BOULDER. (OAK 151 DEGS RADIAL AT 34 NM). I KNEW THAT 2 HVY ACFT WERE IN THE VICINITY BUT DID NOT SEE EITHER ONE. AFTER WE RPTED THE FIELD IN SIGHT, WE WERE CLRED FOR THE TIPTOE VISUAL TO RWY 28L. I THEN HEARD APCH TELL ACR Y, A 747, TO 'EXPECT BASE TURN IN 10 MI FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 28R.' I TOLD THE FO THAT I SAW A POTENTIAL JOIN-UP DEVELOPING. APCH THEN SLOWED US TO 180 KTS. I SPOTTED THE B747 ON A HIGH DOWNWIND FOR RWY 28R. THE B747 RPTED THE FIELD AND US IN SIGHT (AFTER HE WAS GIVEN A HDG OF 230 DEGS) AND WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 28R. BECAUSE THE 747 WAS HEADING DIRECTLY AT US AND ABOVE US, I ASKED APCH (IN RESPONSE TO THEIR QUERY IF I HAD THE 747 IN SIGHT), 'WHAT ARE HIS INTENTIONS?' APCH SAID 'HE'S A VISUAL FOR THE R AND YOU'RE FOR THE L.' SINCE THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY AN INTENTIONAL JOIN-UP WITH WINGTIP-TO-WINGTIP FLYING, I SAID, 'I WANT TO BE IN FRONT OF THE 747.' APCH SAID, 'YOU WILL BE. HE WILL MAINTAIN VISUAL ON YOU.' IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT 180 KTS WOULD NOT KEEP ME IN FRONT, SO I INCREASED TO 200 KTS TO GET SOME SEPARATION, AND THEN COMMENCED SLOWING TO STAY BEHIND ANOTHER 747 ON SHORT FINAL FOR THE R 4 MI AHEAD. I TOLD THE FO THAT I WOULD STAY 2 DOTS HIGH WITH A LITTLE EXTRA SPD (WIND WAS 310 DEGS AT 19 KTS AND LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR ADVISORIES WERE IN EFFECT). I ALSO TOLD THE COPLT TO TELL ME IF THE Y 747 WAS ABOUT TO PASS US, BECAUSE I WOULD BE GOING AROUND. I MADE A HIGH APCH AND LONG LNDG AND STILL FELT THE 747'S VORTICES. CHARTED VISUALS ARE UNSAFE. HAD THE Y 747 AND US FOLLOWED THE CTLR'S INSTRUCTIONS, A VERY HAZARDOUS SIT, (OVERSHOOT, MID-AIR COLLISION, WAKE VORTEX UPSET) MAY HAVE OCCURRED.

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.