B737-500 flight crew has concern with aircraft separation during approach to myr.

Attributes
ACN	704388
Time
Date	200607
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : myr.airport
State Reference	SC
Altitude	agl single value : 1200
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : myr.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : myr.tower
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Hercules (C-130)
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
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 : cfi pilot : flight engineer pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 1500 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 3500
ASRS Report	704388
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took precautionary avoidance action
Miss Distance	horizontal : 11000 vertical : 200
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Airport ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

After being cleared for a visual approach to runway 18 and only 3.5 NM from runway end; tower cleared us to land '#2 behind a C130 on right downwind.' we were indicating 150 KTS planning to slow to final approach speed after being held; at a higher altitude longer than practical for a normal approach to landing. When I located the C130; in my opinion; we were much too close to continue. I felt that when the C130 were to turn onto final; that we be only 1/4 mi apart at the most. I informed tower we would require a 360 degree turn for separation from the C130. Tower responded; 'no you don't' in an indignant tone of voice; followed by 'continue.' tower did not know our airspeed and we did not know his plan of action. I slowed the aircraft to final approach speed with full landing flaps. The C130 made a 'short approach' and then a touch-and-go. At no time were we ever informed of the intentions of the C130; or of the tower controller. We landed safely after slowing substantially. Had we been in a heavier aircraft or in a B737-800/B737-900; there is no possible way we would have been able to slow enough to provide adequate separation between us and the C130. The tower controller seemed content with telling us how to fly our aircraft; while not keeping us in the loop as to his intentions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 FLT CREW HAS CONCERN WITH ACFT SEPARATION DURING APCH TO MYR.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 18 AND ONLY 3.5 NM FROM RWY END; TWR CLRED US TO LAND '#2 BEHIND A C130 ON R DOWNWIND.' WE WERE INDICATING 150 KTS PLANNING TO SLOW TO FINAL APCH SPD AFTER BEING HELD; AT A HIGHER ALT LONGER THAN PRACTICAL FOR A NORMAL APCH TO LNDG. WHEN I LOCATED THE C130; IN MY OPINION; WE WERE MUCH TOO CLOSE TO CONTINUE. I FELT THAT WHEN THE C130 WERE TO TURN ONTO FINAL; THAT WE BE ONLY 1/4 MI APART AT THE MOST. I INFORMED TWR WE WOULD REQUIRE A 360 DEG TURN FOR SEPARATION FROM THE C130. TWR RESPONDED; 'NO YOU DON'T' IN AN INDIGNANT TONE OF VOICE; FOLLOWED BY 'CONTINUE.' TWR DID NOT KNOW OUR AIRSPD AND WE DID NOT KNOW HIS PLAN OF ACTION. I SLOWED THE ACFT TO FINAL APCH SPD WITH FULL LNDG FLAPS. THE C130 MADE A 'SHORT APCH' AND THEN A TOUCH-AND-GO. AT NO TIME WERE WE EVER INFORMED OF THE INTENTIONS OF THE C130; OR OF THE TWR CTLR. WE LANDED SAFELY AFTER SLOWING SUBSTANTIALLY. HAD WE BEEN IN A HEAVIER ACFT OR IN A B737-800/B737-900; THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW ENOUGH TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SEPARATION BTWN US AND THE C130. THE TWR CTLR SEEMED CONTENT WITH TELLING US HOW TO FLY OUR ACFT; WHILE NOT KEEPING US IN THE LOOP AS TO HIS INTENTIONS.

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.