B727 crew have difficulty sighting the airport, because of bright sun.

Attributes
ACN	580381
Time
Date	200304
Day	Thu
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iah.airport
State Reference	TX
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : i90.tracon tower : iah.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 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	tower : iah.tower
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 800
ASRS Report	580381
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter other non adherence : clearance other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar aircraft equipment : tcas other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : became reoriented flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course none taken : anomaly accepted other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

Landing at iah. The controllers were really pushing us to accept a visual approach. I was flying, and I said that I couldn't see anything, because the sun was so bright and directly in our eyes. They kept asking if we saw the airport. I said no, but I think the captain said yes, but I'm not sure, because his english gets a little messed up when he is under pressure. I think he was trying to let them know that we don't have it in sight yet, but should get it soon. Again, the controller really wanted us to get it in sight, so I think the captain felt a lot of pressure to please the controller. After, the captain called if they cleared us for a visual or not. When he said cleared to intercept localizer, we were already through it, so I started correcting to the left right away. The controller said that we were through it, and ordered us to correct immediately. We already started, I got on the localizer and saw the runway. We were a little high, but landing was normal. I'm not sure why the controllers brought us in so close to the runway with the sun directly in our faces. They have the sun at their backs, and presumed too much to get us to accept a visual. We should have been more resolute on not letting them put so much pressure on us. There was a TA on TCASII, but no evasive action was needed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B727 CREW HAVE DIFFICULTY SIGHTING THE ARPT, BECAUSE OF BRIGHT SUN.

Narrative: LNDG AT IAH. THE CTLRS WERE REALLY PUSHING US TO ACCEPT A VISUAL APCH. I WAS FLYING, AND I SAID THAT I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE SUN WAS SO BRIGHT AND DIRECTLY IN OUR EYES. THEY KEPT ASKING IF WE SAW THE ARPT. I SAID NO, BUT I THINK THE CAPT SAID YES, BUT I'M NOT SURE, BECAUSE HIS ENGLISH GETS A LITTLE MESSED UP WHEN HE IS UNDER PRESSURE. I THINK HE WAS TRYING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE IT IN SIGHT YET, BUT SHOULD GET IT SOON. AGAIN, THE CTLR REALLY WANTED US TO GET IT IN SIGHT, SO I THINK THE CAPT FELT A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PLEASE THE CTLR. AFTER, THE CAPT CALLED IF THEY CLRED US FOR A VISUAL OR NOT. WHEN HE SAID CLRED TO INTERCEPT LOC, WE WERE ALREADY THROUGH IT, SO I STARTED CORRECTING TO THE L RIGHT AWAY. THE CTLR SAID THAT WE WERE THROUGH IT, AND ORDERED US TO CORRECT IMMEDIATELY. WE ALREADY STARTED, I GOT ON THE LOC AND SAW THE RWY. WE WERE A LITTLE HIGH, BUT LNDG WAS NORMAL. I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CTLRS BROUGHT US IN SO CLOSE TO THE RWY WITH THE SUN DIRECTLY IN OUR FACES. THEY HAVE THE SUN AT THEIR BACKS, AND PRESUMED TOO MUCH TO GET US TO ACCEPT A VISUAL. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE RESOLUTE ON NOT LETTING THEM PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON US. THERE WAS A TA ON TCASII, BUT NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NEEDED.

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.