Approach controller vectored an air carrier B737 off the tipp toe visual to runway 28L at sfo for spacing with another aircraft B737 on a visual approach to runway 28R. Captain of first B737 received a TCASII on the other aircraft and followed it, then questioned the controller on the vector, and felt he could have done a better job of spacing his aircraft.

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Attributes
ACN	350334
Time
Date	199610
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 4000 msl bound upper : 4500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
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 : 250 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 1000
ASRS Report	350334
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 1300
ASRS Report	350337
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Descending into sfo, cleared for the tipp toe visual runway 28L, we were inbound to menlo intersection on oak 151 degree radial, had selected 4000 ft in altitude alerter. Bay approach issued a heading of 020 degrees. This heading pointed us directly at an air carrier Y B737 (cleared for a visual to runway 28R). We were descending through 4500 ft when we got a TCASII RA to 'descend,' caused by our proximity to the air carrier Y B737. Approach then cleared us for the visual to runway 28L. At this time, we were approximately 1/2 mi north of the runway 28R localizer and had to maneuver through both runway 28 locs to return to the visual course for runway 28L. When queried about the heading, the approach controller stated 'for separation to the runway.' we feel the heading given created a greater danger than either restricting our descent or slowing us down.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: APCH CTLR VECTORED AN ACR B737 OFF THE TIPP TOE VISUAL TO RWY 28L AT SFO FOR SPACING WITH ANOTHER ACFT B737 ON A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R. CAPT OF FIRST B737 RECEIVED A TCASII ON THE OTHER ACFT AND FOLLOWED IT, THEN QUESTIONED THE CTLR ON THE VECTOR, AND FELT HE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB OF SPACING HIS ACFT.

Narrative: DSNDING INTO SFO, CLRED FOR THE TIPP TOE VISUAL RWY 28L, WE WERE INBOUND TO MENLO INTXN ON OAK 151 DEG RADIAL, HAD SELECTED 4000 FT IN ALT ALERTER. BAY APCH ISSUED A HDG OF 020 DEGS. THIS HDG POINTED US DIRECTLY AT AN ACR Y B737 (CLRED FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 28R). WE WERE DSNDING THROUGH 4500 FT WHEN WE GOT A TCASII RA TO 'DSND,' CAUSED BY OUR PROX TO THE ACR Y B737. APCH THEN CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 28L. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE APPROX 1/2 MI N OF THE RWY 28R LOC AND HAD TO MANEUVER THROUGH BOTH RWY 28 LOCS TO RETURN TO THE VISUAL COURSE FOR RWY 28L. WHEN QUERIED ABOUT THE HDG, THE APCH CTLR STATED 'FOR SEPARATION TO THE RWY.' WE FEEL THE HDG GIVEN CREATED A GREATER DANGER THAN EITHER RESTRICTING OUR DSCNT OR SLOWING US DOWN.

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.