Narrative:

We were descending into las on ksino arrival from northeast. We were told to descend to 12000 ft (versus 'descend via') after luxor. We were switched to approach control. Approach gave us descent to 10000 ft. Traffic on the frequency was moderate. Approximately 18 mi from field, we asked if we could expect runway 25R as we were getting a little high for a base leg (to say the least). He replied with 'expect left downwind, proceed direct las VOR and descend to 9000 ft.' we complied. At approximately 10-12 mi from VOR, we were given 'descend to 8000 ft, then slow to 170 KTS and turn to 180 degrees.' I started down slowly, to descend and bleed off speed, my first officer said 'we've got some traffic over here.' next the TCASII TA alerted and from what I recall, showed about 500 ft below and less than 5 mi. We were already in the turn, so I tightened it up to around 30+ degrees of bank to gain nose-to-tail separation. The first officer called out to the controller 'we've got a visual on the traffic to the right.' the controller gave us an immediate turn to 110 degrees. Next he gave the traffic (I assume going to downwind for runway 1) a right turn to 180 degree heading. Too little and too late. Next we were switched to final (135.0). We were switched to final landing 110 degrees and 8000 ft. Final gave us a descent to 7000 ft. We complied and were then given a 075 degree heading and 6000 ft. We complied and then proceeded on downwind for several mi as he worked departures off las. The frequency was excessively busy. We proceeded to 20 mi from airport at 6000 ft, which is underneath the class B airspace and just about 10 mi from rising terrain (6000 ft on the chart). Every transmission was made at the last min. I called the supervisor about our incident and I inquired about the final controller working departures. He said that is normal for this confign (landing runway 1/25, departing runway 1). I expressed my concern and he replied 'that's just the way they work it.' as a former radar controller, I've never worked or heard of combining final with departures except at the slowest of facilities. I think this is a very unsafe and unacceptable situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 EXPERIENCED TCASII TA INBOUND TO LAS.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING INTO LAS ON KSINO ARR FROM NE. WE WERE TOLD TO DSND TO 12000 FT (VERSUS 'DSND VIA') AFTER LUXOR. WE WERE SWITCHED TO APCH CTL. APCH GAVE US DSCNT TO 10000 FT. TFC ON THE FREQ WAS MODERATE. APPROX 18 MI FROM FIELD, WE ASKED IF WE COULD EXPECT RWY 25R AS WE WERE GETTING A LITTLE HIGH FOR A BASE LEG (TO SAY THE LEAST). HE REPLIED WITH 'EXPECT L DOWNWIND, PROCEED DIRECT LAS VOR AND DSND TO 9000 FT.' WE COMPLIED. AT APPROX 10-12 MI FROM VOR, WE WERE GIVEN 'DSND TO 8000 FT, THEN SLOW TO 170 KTS AND TURN TO 180 DEGS.' I STARTED DOWN SLOWLY, TO DSND AND BLEED OFF SPD, MY FO SAID 'WE'VE GOT SOME TFC OVER HERE.' NEXT THE TCASII TA ALERTED AND FROM WHAT I RECALL, SHOWED ABOUT 500 FT BELOW AND LESS THAN 5 MI. WE WERE ALREADY IN THE TURN, SO I TIGHTENED IT UP TO AROUND 30+ DEGS OF BANK TO GAIN NOSE-TO-TAIL SEPARATION. THE FO CALLED OUT TO THE CTLR 'WE'VE GOT A VISUAL ON THE TFC TO THE R.' THE CTLR GAVE US AN IMMEDIATE TURN TO 110 DEGS. NEXT HE GAVE THE TFC (I ASSUME GOING TO DOWNWIND FOR RWY 1) A R TURN TO 180 DEG HDG. TOO LITTLE AND TOO LATE. NEXT WE WERE SWITCHED TO FINAL (135.0). WE WERE SWITCHED TO FINAL LNDG 110 DEGS AND 8000 FT. FINAL GAVE US A DSCNT TO 7000 FT. WE COMPLIED AND WERE THEN GIVEN A 075 DEG HDG AND 6000 FT. WE COMPLIED AND THEN PROCEEDED ON DOWNWIND FOR SEVERAL MI AS HE WORKED DEPS OFF LAS. THE FREQ WAS EXCESSIVELY BUSY. WE PROCEEDED TO 20 MI FROM ARPT AT 6000 FT, WHICH IS UNDERNEATH THE CLASS B AIRSPACE AND JUST ABOUT 10 MI FROM RISING TERRAIN (6000 FT ON THE CHART). EVERY XMISSION WAS MADE AT THE LAST MIN. I CALLED THE SUPVR ABOUT OUR INCIDENT AND I INQUIRED ABOUT THE FINAL CTLR WORKING DEPS. HE SAID THAT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CONFIGN (LNDG RWY 1/25, DEPARTING RWY 1). I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN AND HE REPLIED 'THAT'S JUST THE WAY THEY WORK IT.' AS A FORMER RADAR CTLR, I'VE NEVER WORKED OR HEARD OF COMBINING FINAL WITH DEPS EXCEPT AT THE SLOWEST OF FACILITIES. I THINK THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE AND UNACCEPTABLE SIT.

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.