Simultaneous visual approachs with speed control at sfo, ca, on runways 28L&right.

Attributes
ACN	530378
Time
Date	200111
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo.airport
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl single value : 10000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : o90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	530378
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : clearance non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure Airport ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

During a visual approach to runway 28R sfo, we were told to maintain visual separation from air carrier on our left. I asked if he would land prior to us, as I could not tell, and the controller said we would probably fly side-by-side. He then told air carrier to maintain visual contact with my flight. It became apparent that air carrier would stay in front of us, so how were they able to maintain visual contact with us. Both flts were given speed assignments which further complicates the question of what to do if you begin to overtake the other flight -- namely, how can you avoid an overtake and also maintain an assigned speed? This seems like poor procedure by the ATC controller. Also, it is common to have aircraft come from behind and pass my aircraft on visual approachs to runway 28R&left at sfo. This seems unsafe and it is very, very distracting with TCASII alerts and visual distraction as well. Additionally, how can an aircraft pass my aircraft and continue to maintain visual contact with my aircraft after he is far ahead of me? I suggest all aircraft be prohibited from passing another aircraft while on a visual approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIMULTANEOUS VISUAL APCHS WITH SPD CTL AT SFO, CA, ON RWYS 28L&R.

Narrative: DURING A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 28R SFO, WE WERE TOLD TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM ACR ON OUR L. I ASKED IF HE WOULD LAND PRIOR TO US, AS I COULD NOT TELL, AND THE CTLR SAID WE WOULD PROBABLY FLY SIDE-BY-SIDE. HE THEN TOLD ACR TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH MY FLT. IT BECAME APPARENT THAT ACR WOULD STAY IN FRONT OF US, SO HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH US. BOTH FLTS WERE GIVEN SPD ASSIGNMENTS WHICH FURTHER COMPLICATES THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO IF YOU BEGIN TO OVERTAKE THE OTHER FLT -- NAMELY, HOW CAN YOU AVOID AN OVERTAKE AND ALSO MAINTAIN AN ASSIGNED SPD? THIS SEEMS LIKE POOR PROC BY THE ATC CTLR. ALSO, IT IS COMMON TO HAVE ACFT COME FROM BEHIND AND PASS MY ACFT ON VISUAL APCHS TO RWY 28R&L AT SFO. THIS SEEMS UNSAFE AND IT IS VERY, VERY DISTRACTING WITH TCASII ALERTS AND VISUAL DISTR AS WELL. ADDITIONALLY, HOW CAN AN ACFT PASS MY ACFT AND CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH MY ACFT AFTER HE IS FAR AHEAD OF ME? I SUGGEST ALL ACFT BE PROHIBITED FROM PASSING ANOTHER ACFT WHILE ON A VISUAL APCH.

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.