Narrative:

Normal operations into dfw runway 18R. On final at about 1500 ft AGL; we noticed a TCAS target about 700 ft below us and just to our right. As we continued to descend to 1000 ft AGL; we got a 'traffic; traffic' call and noticed that the TCAS target was 400 ft below us and appeared to be directly below us. Both pilots were looking outside to acquire the target. I leveled out and went full scale high on the GS; just as the first officer acquired a helicopter about 400 ft below us and just to our right. At the same time; tower pointed out the helicopter to us; but did not indicate if it had us in sight. Knowing that the TCAS RA would be inhibited; or already was; we waited until we were past the helicopter and descended back towards the GS. At 500 ft we were within the stabilized approach criteria (barely) and landed. After landing; the first officer asked the tower if that was a normal place for helicopters to be. The answer was 'around here it is.' after we blocked in; I went to operations and called the tower. Talked to a very pleasant gentleman and explained our event. He was familiar and explained that this was normal operations here in dfw as they have helicopters that run through this corridor on their own frequency. He informed us that the helicopter had us in sight and was told to pass behind and below us. Not knowing that he had us in sight; and not acquiring him until the last min made this a very uncomfortable approach. Also; I felt the helicopter; although maintaining visual separation; was uncomfortably close to our aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A320 EXPERIENCED CONFLICT WITH UNRPTED HELI WHILE ON FINAL FOR RWY 18R AT DFW.

Narrative: NORMAL OPS INTO DFW RWY 18R. ON FINAL AT ABOUT 1500 FT AGL; WE NOTICED A TCAS TARGET ABOUT 700 FT BELOW US AND JUST TO OUR R. AS WE CONTINUED TO DSND TO 1000 FT AGL; WE GOT A 'TFC; TFC' CALL AND NOTICED THAT THE TCAS TARGET WAS 400 FT BELOW US AND APPEARED TO BE DIRECTLY BELOW US. BOTH PLTS WERE LOOKING OUTSIDE TO ACQUIRE THE TARGET. I LEVELED OUT AND WENT FULL SCALE HIGH ON THE GS; JUST AS THE FO ACQUIRED A HELI ABOUT 400 FT BELOW US AND JUST TO OUR R. AT THE SAME TIME; TWR POINTED OUT THE HELI TO US; BUT DID NOT INDICATE IF IT HAD US IN SIGHT. KNOWING THAT THE TCAS RA WOULD BE INHIBITED; OR ALREADY WAS; WE WAITED UNTIL WE WERE PAST THE HELI AND DSNDED BACK TOWARDS THE GS. AT 500 FT WE WERE WITHIN THE STABILIZED APCH CRITERIA (BARELY) AND LANDED. AFTER LNDG; THE FO ASKED THE TWR IF THAT WAS A NORMAL PLACE FOR HELIS TO BE. THE ANSWER WAS 'AROUND HERE IT IS.' AFTER WE BLOCKED IN; I WENT TO OPS AND CALLED THE TWR. TALKED TO A VERY PLEASANT GENTLEMAN AND EXPLAINED OUR EVENT. HE WAS FAMILIAR AND EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPS HERE IN DFW AS THEY HAVE HELIS THAT RUN THROUGH THIS CORRIDOR ON THEIR OWN FREQ. HE INFORMED US THAT THE HELI HAD US IN SIGHT AND WAS TOLD TO PASS BEHIND AND BELOW US. NOT KNOWING THAT HE HAD US IN SIGHT; AND NOT ACQUIRING HIM UNTIL THE LAST MIN MADE THIS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE APCH. ALSO; I FELT THE HELI; ALTHOUGH MAINTAINING VISUAL SEPARATION; WAS UNCOMFORTABLY CLOSE TO OUR ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.