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A B737-700 flight crew; after 3 runway changes; was pressured by approach control to turn base before they were comfortable. They declined the clearance.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 742980 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200706 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : las.airport |
| State Reference | NV |
| Altitude | msl single value : 7500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tracon : l30.tracon artcc : zzzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B737-700 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | descent : approach |
| Route In Use | approach : traffic pattern approach : visual |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 224 flight time type : 8500 |
| ASRS Report | 742980 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | government : faa |
| Function | controller : approach |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : less severe inflight encounter : turbulence |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft ATC Human Performance Weather |
| Primary Problem | ATC Human Performance |
Narrative:
A new first officer; three runway changes; mdt turbulence; wind and a TR inoperative all led to an ATC event. After the third runway change; ATC had us downwind for 19L. We were abeam the end of runway 19L at 7500 ft and the controller cleared us for the visibility to runway 19L. She wanted us to start our base now. I told the first officer to tell her no. We were too high to make the turn. He was having trouble keeping up and for whatever reason; could not get out to the controller that I said no. She starting pushing for a base turn; again the first officer seemed at a loss of what to say. The third call from ATC; I jumped on the radio and told her no way; it's not safe and I would turn base when I felt we could do so. After a long pause; she handed us off to tower. We were never unsafe and kept all company standards. The first officer did a very good job; but it's easy to understand his being overloaded. I should have just said unable. The first officer and I talked about what has to be done and why to stay safe.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-700 FLT CREW; AFTER 3 RWY CHANGES; WAS PRESSURED BY APCH CTL TO TURN BASE BEFORE THEY WERE COMFORTABLE. THEY DECLINED THE CLEARANCE.
Narrative: A NEW FO; THREE RUNWAY CHANGES; MDT TURB; WIND AND A TR INOP ALL LED TO AN ATC EVENT. AFTER THE THIRD RUNWAY CHANGE; ATC HAD US DOWNWIND FOR 19L. WE WERE ABEAM THE END OF RWY 19L AT 7500 FT AND THE CONTROLLER CLEARED US FOR THE VIS TO RWY 19L. SHE WANTED US TO START OUR BASE NOW. I TOLD THE FO TO TELL HER NO. WE WERE TOO HIGH TO MAKE THE TURN. HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING UP AND FOR WHATEVER REASON; COULD NOT GET OUT TO THE CONTROLLER THAT I SAID NO. SHE STARTING PUSHING FOR A BASE TURN; AGAIN THE FO SEEMED AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO SAY. THE THIRD CALL FROM ATC; I JUMPED ON THE RADIO AND TOLD HER NO WAY; IT'S NOT SAFE AND I WOULD TURN BASE WHEN I FELT WE COULD DO SO. AFTER A LONG PAUSE; SHE HANDED US OFF TO TOWER. WE WERE NEVER UNSAFE AND KEPT ALL COMPANY STANDARDS. THE FO DID A VERY GOOD JOB; BUT IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND HIS BEING OVERLOADED. I SHOULD HAVE JUST SAID UNABLE. THE FO AND I TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AND WHY TO STAY SAFE.
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.