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An air carrier crew is confused by altitude restrs issued for a visual approach to runway 19L at las, nv.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 563716 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200210 |
| Day | Tue |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : las.airport |
| State Reference | NV |
| Altitude | msl single value : 4500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : l30.tracon |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Regional Jet CL65, Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| 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 : captain oversight : pic |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 563716 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Airport ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
Narrative:
We were cleared for the visual approach runway 19L at las and told to maintain 4500 ft until crossing the stratosphere tower. Just prior to reaching the tower, the controller issued another instruction telling us to turn final at or above 3500 ft. At this time, the PF began descent from 4500 ft. It wasn't clear whether the controller wanted us to still maintain 4500 ft until crossing the tower or just to turn final so as to be above 3500 ft. Crossing the tower at 4500 ft before descending for the visual approach makes it difficult to execute a stabilized approach to runway 19L whereas descending early results in an approach that passes close to the tower. I think a charted visual approach could be designed for runways 19L/right that would allow a stabilized approach while avoiding flight near the stratosphere tower.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN ACR CREW IS CONFUSED BY ALT RESTRS ISSUED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 19L AT LAS, NV.
Narrative: WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH RWY 19L AT LAS AND TOLD TO MAINTAIN 4500 FT UNTIL XING THE STRATOSPHERE TWR. JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE TWR, THE CTLR ISSUED ANOTHER INSTRUCTION TELLING US TO TURN FINAL AT OR ABOVE 3500 FT. AT THIS TIME, THE PF BEGAN DSCNT FROM 4500 FT. IT WASN'T CLR WHETHER THE CTLR WANTED US TO STILL MAINTAIN 4500 FT UNTIL XING THE TWR OR JUST TO TURN FINAL SO AS TO BE ABOVE 3500 FT. XING THE TWR AT 4500 FT BEFORE DSNDING FOR THE VISUAL APCH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO EXECUTE A STABILIZED APCH TO RWY 19L WHEREAS DSNDING EARLY RESULTS IN AN APCH THAT PASSES CLOSE TO THE TWR. I THINK A CHARTED VISUAL APCH COULD BE DESIGNED FOR RWYS 19L/R THAT WOULD ALLOW A STABILIZED APCH WHILE AVOIDING FLT NEAR THE STRATOSPHERE TWR.
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.