Air carrier X TCASII RA with VFR small aircraft near class B airspace.

Attributes
ACN	307513
Time
Date	199506
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : phx
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3100 msl bound upper : 3100
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : phx tower : ord
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	307513
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2500 vertical : 500
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Air carrier X conducting a visual approach to runway 26R at phx, we received a TCASII RA. We saw the small aircraft visually, and passed above and in front with close, but adequate, separation. We were extremely busy trying to keep proper separation from the traffic in front of us, configuring and slowing the aircraft, and looking for the other traffic. We received a tower TA at about the same time we acquired the conflicting traffic. The tower advised me later that this is a common occurrence at this airport with aircraft flying VFR at 1500 ft AGL on the edge of the class 'B' airspace. In my opinion, this is not a good situation for either aircraft. We were on the GS for the approach. I think more vertical separation is in order for that area of the approach, perhaps widening the class 'B' airspace. Since it seems to be common practice for VFR pilots to fly along a road marking the class 'B' boundary at phx, pilots conducting ILS approachs, visual or IMC, should be warned about this possible conflict. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated the aircraft involved was a southeast cessna. He did not respond to TCASII RA because he had the aircraft in sight. Reporter was informed that following the GS on the approach at phx will drop the aircraft out the floor of the class B airspace.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X TCASII RA WITH VFR SMA NEAR CLASS B AIRSPACE.

Narrative: ACR X CONDUCTING A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 26R AT PHX, WE RECEIVED A TCASII RA. WE SAW THE SMA VISUALLY, AND PASSED ABOVE AND IN FRONT WITH CLOSE, BUT ADEQUATE, SEPARATION. WE WERE EXTREMELY BUSY TRYING TO KEEP PROPER SEPARATION FROM THE TFC IN FRONT OF US, CONFIGURING AND SLOWING THE ACFT, AND LOOKING FOR THE OTHER TFC. WE RECEIVED A TWR TA AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME WE ACQUIRED THE CONFLICTING TFC. THE TWR ADVISED ME LATER THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT THIS ARPT WITH ACFT FLYING VFR AT 1500 FT AGL ON THE EDGE OF THE CLASS 'B' AIRSPACE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS NOT A GOOD SIT FOR EITHER ACFT. WE WERE ON THE GS FOR THE APCH. I THINK MORE VERT SEPARATION IS IN ORDER FOR THAT AREA OF THE APCH, PERHAPS WIDENING THE CLASS 'B' AIRSPACE. SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON PRACTICE FOR VFR PLTS TO FLY ALONG A ROAD MARKING THE CLASS 'B' BOUNDARY AT PHX, PLTS CONDUCTING ILS APCHS, VISUAL OR IMC, SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE CONFLICT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE ACFT INVOLVED WAS A SE CESSNA. HE DID NOT RESPOND TO TCASII RA BECAUSE HE HAD THE ACFT IN SIGHT. RPTR WAS INFORMED THAT FOLLOWING THE GS ON THE APCH AT PHX WILL DROP THE ACFT OUT THE FLOOR OF THE CLASS B AIRSPACE.

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.