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Reporter told controller visibility was less than 10 mi given by ATIS. Controller vectored reporter out for ILS. Reporter did not understand the logic of the controller's vectors. Reporter is calling for a published visual approach to sps.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 285185 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199410 |
| Day | Thu |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : sps |
| State Reference | TX |
| Altitude | msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 3000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : sps tower : sps |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Saab 2000 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 135 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | arrival other |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 6100 |
| ASRS Report | 285185 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air taxi |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other other : unspecified cockpit |
| Resolutory Action | other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Chart Or Publication |
| Air Traffic Incident | other |
| Situations | |
| ATC Facility | procedure or policy : unspecified |
Narrative:
We contacted sheppard approach with ATIS. ATIS called for 10 mi visibility. It was very hazy and we told approach control that. We were asked if we were familiar with special procedures at sps. We were (from experience) 'pass over kickapoo at 2300 MSL for pattern sps.' we kept being asked if we had the airport in sight and we kept telling approach no, too hazy. Finally, we called airport in sight, heading was 350 degrees. Approach told us to turn right to 270 degrees. 'Left turn?' I asked. 'Oh yeah, left turn to 270 degrees.' everything was very confusing from there on. We were doing donuts in the sky. We didn't know where we were going. No planning. We had airport finally in sight, but were not allowed to shoot the visual. Why? Where is it written about special procedures at sps? (To separate sheppard air force base traffic with sps municipal traffic). Dangerous situation. We need standard written down procedure on approach plates. Help, please.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: RPTR TOLD CTLR VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 10 MI GIVEN BY ATIS. CTLR VECTORED RPTR OUT FOR ILS. RPTR DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF THE CTLR'S VECTORS. RPTR IS CALLING FOR A PUBLISHED VISUAL APCH TO SPS.
Narrative: WE CONTACTED SHEPPARD APCH WITH ATIS. ATIS CALLED FOR 10 MI VISIBILITY. IT WAS VERY HAZY AND WE TOLD APCH CTL THAT. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WERE FAMILIAR WITH SPECIAL PROCS AT SPS. WE WERE (FROM EXPERIENCE) 'PASS OVER KICKAPOO AT 2300 MSL FOR PATTERN SPS.' WE KEPT BEING ASKED IF WE HAD THE ARPT IN SIGHT AND WE KEPT TELLING APCH NO, TOO HAZY. FINALLY, WE CALLED ARPT IN SIGHT, HDG WAS 350 DEGS. APCH TOLD US TO TURN R TO 270 DEGS. 'L TURN?' I ASKED. 'OH YEAH, L TURN TO 270 DEGS.' EVERYTHING WAS VERY CONFUSING FROM THERE ON. WE WERE DOING DONUTS IN THE SKY. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE GOING. NO PLANNING. WE HAD ARPT FINALLY IN SIGHT, BUT WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SHOOT THE VISUAL. WHY? WHERE IS IT WRITTEN ABOUT SPECIAL PROCS AT SPS? (TO SEPARATE SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE TFC WITH SPS MUNICIPAL TFC). DANGEROUS SIT. WE NEED STANDARD WRITTEN DOWN PROC ON APCH PLATES. HELP, PLEASE.
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.