Narrative:

Cyvr approach vectored us onto a left downwind for ILS runway 8L approach at cyvr. From the base leg; we were cleared to descend from 5000 ft to 3000 ft; and a left turn to 110 degrees to intercept final. As we began the turn and in the descent; a TA indication appeared on the navigation display; and I looked in the direction to look for the traffic. Suddenly; cyvr approach instructed us to turn right to 230 degrees and climb to 3500 ft -- obviously for the traffic. I was surprised as to the 'right' turn; so I asked again to confirm the right turn since we were already in a left turn to 110 degrees; and a right turn would turn us into the traffic. Then an RA sounded; 'monitor vertical speed;' and passing through 3200 ft; the first officer leveled off and complied with the RA within parameters on the guidance. Then approach instructed us to turn left now; to a 050 degree heading; and 3500 ft. As we continued our turn to the left; we received a 'clear of conflict' from TCAS as our traffic was on final for runway 8R. We got vectored back around for another uneventful approach to a full stop. I believe the controller lost situational awareness while vectoring us around the pattern. I do not think he realized that he had turned us nose to nose with the runway 8R traffic also on his base leg. When he figured it out; he blurted out instructions that were confusing to the pilots; and unclr as to the intentions. CRM worked well within the cockpit; in that the first officer kept fully situationally oriented; and complied with the RA that I as a PNF heard; but did not see; while attempting to clarify and comply with ATC instructions. Although we were doing separate tasks for the moment; we never left the same page; and once established on the new vector; we were able to 'come together.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A319 FLT CREW REPORTS TCAS RA; WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR 8L AT CYVR; WITH ACFT BEING VECTORED FOR 8R. A319 FLT CREW COMPLIES WITH RA AND IS THEN VECTORED AROUND FOR ANOTHER APPROACH.

Narrative: CYVR APCH VECTORED US ONTO A L DOWNWIND FOR ILS RWY 8L APCH AT CYVR. FROM THE BASE LEG; WE WERE CLRED TO DSND FROM 5000 FT TO 3000 FT; AND A L TURN TO 110 DEGS TO INTERCEPT FINAL. AS WE BEGAN THE TURN AND IN THE DSCNT; A TA INDICATION APPEARED ON THE NAV DISPLAY; AND I LOOKED IN THE DIRECTION TO LOOK FOR THE TFC. SUDDENLY; CYVR APCH INSTRUCTED US TO TURN R TO 230 DEGS AND CLB TO 3500 FT -- OBVIOUSLY FOR THE TFC. I WAS SURPRISED AS TO THE 'R' TURN; SO I ASKED AGAIN TO CONFIRM THE R TURN SINCE WE WERE ALREADY IN A L TURN TO 110 DEGS; AND A R TURN WOULD TURN US INTO THE TFC. THEN AN RA SOUNDED; 'MONITOR VERT SPD;' AND PASSING THROUGH 3200 FT; THE FO LEVELED OFF AND COMPLIED WITH THE RA WITHIN PARAMETERS ON THE GUIDANCE. THEN APCH INSTRUCTED US TO TURN L NOW; TO A 050 DEG HDG; AND 3500 FT. AS WE CONTINUED OUR TURN TO THE L; WE RECEIVED A 'CLR OF CONFLICT' FROM TCAS AS OUR TFC WAS ON FINAL FOR RWY 8R. WE GOT VECTORED BACK AROUND FOR ANOTHER UNEVENTFUL APCH TO A FULL STOP. I BELIEVE THE CTLR LOST SITUATIONAL AWARENESS WHILE VECTORING US AROUND THE PATTERN. I DO NOT THINK HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD TURNED US NOSE TO NOSE WITH THE RWY 8R TFC ALSO ON HIS BASE LEG. WHEN HE FIGURED IT OUT; HE BLURTED OUT INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE CONFUSING TO THE PLTS; AND UNCLR AS TO THE INTENTIONS. CRM WORKED WELL WITHIN THE COCKPIT; IN THAT THE FO KEPT FULLY SITUATIONALLY ORIENTED; AND COMPLIED WITH THE RA THAT I AS A PNF HEARD; BUT DID NOT SEE; WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLARIFY AND COMPLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS. ALTHOUGH WE WERE DOING SEPARATE TASKS FOR THE MOMENT; WE NEVER LEFT THE SAME PAGE; AND ONCE ESTABLISHED ON THE NEW VECTOR; WE WERE ABLE TO 'COME TOGETHER.'

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.