Narrative:

Checking in with norcal approach; we were cleared to a fix on the lda 28R approach. Tried to enter it into GPS; we did not have the fix. After both pilots tried to put it in; I advised ATC that we needed a vector to this fix. We were then told to expect an lda prm 28R approach. Quick setup; as we were anticipating our usual quiet bridge visual to runway 28R; especially since WX was pretty good and we had all the visual chkpoints in sight. Vectored onto the localizer; we had the airport and the B737 in sight for runway 28L. Tracking the localizer; I asked the captain (a check airman) 'are we authority/authorized to fly an lda prm approach?' he was very certain we were. I was not certain; however; in VFR conditions with traffic in sight and a check airman asserting we were; I put it out of my mind and performed my pilot monitoring duties. We made an ordinary landing in sfo; and gave it no further thought until 4 days later when I pulled out our manual. The manual states we are approved for lda approachs; ILS; and ILS/prm; but no lda/prm approachs. At the first hint of something out of the ordinary; I should have been more forceful in my questioning; however; with the airline industry now flying everywhere with minimum fuel; voluntarily taken yourself off an approach is kind of uncomfortable.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 ARR TO SFO; WITH NCT; ACCEPTED LDA/PRM CLRNC TO RWY 28R; DISCOVERING LATER THAT THE ACFT/FLT CREW WAS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR PROC.

Narrative: CHKING IN WITH NORCAL APCH; WE WERE CLRED TO A FIX ON THE LDA 28R APCH. TRIED TO ENTER IT INTO GPS; WE DID NOT HAVE THE FIX. AFTER BOTH PLTS TRIED TO PUT IT IN; I ADVISED ATC THAT WE NEEDED A VECTOR TO THIS FIX. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO EXPECT AN LDA PRM 28R APCH. QUICK SETUP; AS WE WERE ANTICIPATING OUR USUAL QUIET BRIDGE VISUAL TO RWY 28R; ESPECIALLY SINCE WX WAS PRETTY GOOD AND WE HAD ALL THE VISUAL CHKPOINTS IN SIGHT. VECTORED ONTO THE LOC; WE HAD THE ARPT AND THE B737 IN SIGHT FOR RWY 28L. TRACKING THE LOC; I ASKED THE CAPT (A CHK AIRMAN) 'ARE WE AUTH TO FLY AN LDA PRM APCH?' HE WAS VERY CERTAIN WE WERE. I WAS NOT CERTAIN; HOWEVER; IN VFR CONDITIONS WITH TFC IN SIGHT AND A CHK AIRMAN ASSERTING WE WERE; I PUT IT OUT OF MY MIND AND PERFORMED MY PLT MONITORING DUTIES. WE MADE AN ORDINARY LNDG IN SFO; AND GAVE IT NO FURTHER THOUGHT UNTIL 4 DAYS LATER WHEN I PULLED OUT OUR MANUAL. THE MANUAL STATES WE ARE APPROVED FOR LDA APCHS; ILS; AND ILS/PRM; BUT NO LDA/PRM APCHS. AT THE FIRST HINT OF SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY; I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE FORCEFUL IN MY QUESTIONING; HOWEVER; WITH THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY NOW FLYING EVERYWHERE WITH MINIMUM FUEL; VOLUNTARILY TAKEN YOURSELF OFF AN APCH IS KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 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.