Narrative:

On descent at about 14;000 we broke out got the runway in sight and were cleared the visual approach. We were very close to the airport when cleared for the visual for runway 30; and needed time to descend. I discussed with the first officer (PF) how he was going to enter the pattern in his approach brief; and he said he'd enter the left base (we were coming from the south). We contacted the tower right after being cleared for the visual; and he asked what out intentions were; I said we would turn right to descend in the downwind; and enter a left base (we were about midfield; but facing north). The first officer didn't turn right away when cleared for the visual; so we were very close to final; so I said he should widen out to the right. He turned right; but didn't stop the turn; and when I asked him about it; he said he was going to turn around all the way to the right because he could see the airport on his side. The tower asked what we were doing; and I said I guess we're doing a right 270 back to a left base (or something like that). We landed without incident; and tower gave us taxi instructions; said 'goodnight'; with no other comments. ATC brought us in very high in relation to the airport; and the first officer needed to turn right away to the left downwind; or fly over midfield and enter a left hand pattern which would have allowed more time to descend. Then the first officer did a right 270 which wasn't discussed in his brief on what way he would enter the pattern; or when he actually did it. I believe another reason it happened; is the first officer's lack of experience in entering patterns to controlled fields on a visual; or lack of previous experience entering uncontrolled field patterns. He had less than 300 hours when hired here; no CFI; and went right to the jet; which doesn't do many uncontrolled field or controlled field complete visual patterns. I learned this teaching my students; flying charter; flying my previous airliner (to many uncontrolled fields) and being a former line check airman; which was very helpful in this area; and is some of the experience many of out jet first officer's will never get. We should be hiring CFI's/pilots with more experience. Better visual pattern training in the simulator and on IOE. Better briefs for pattern entry. We discussed the event; and what went wrong. We also discussed what could be done better in future visual patterns for planning; entry; descent; and CRM. He will do better in the future; but I'm not so sure about other inexperienced jet first officer's.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ900 Captain reported his First Officer failed to use proper procedures when cleared for a visual approach when close in and high. He believes inexperience was a contributing factor.

Narrative: On descent at about 14;000 we broke out got the runway in sight and were cleared the visual approach. We were very close to the airport when cleared for the visual for Runway 30; and needed time to descend. I discussed with the First Officer (PF) how he was going to enter the pattern in his approach brief; and he said he'd enter the left base (we were coming from the South). We contacted the tower right after being cleared for the visual; and he asked what out intentions were; I said we would turn right to descend in the downwind; and enter a left base (we were about midfield; but facing N). The First Officer didn't turn right away when cleared for the visual; so we were very close to final; so I said he should widen out to the right. He turned right; but didn't stop the turn; and when I asked him about it; he said he was going to turn around all the way to the right because he could see the airport on his side. The tower asked what we were doing; and I said I guess we're doing a right 270 back to a left base (or something like that). We landed without incident; and tower gave us taxi instructions; said 'goodnight'; with no other comments. ATC brought us in very high in relation to the airport; and the First Officer needed to turn right away to the left downwind; or fly over midfield and enter a left hand pattern which would have allowed more time to descend. Then the First Officer did a right 270 which wasn't discussed in his brief on what way he would enter the pattern; or when he actually did it. I believe another reason it happened; is the First Officer's lack of experience in entering patterns to controlled fields on a visual; or lack of previous experience entering uncontrolled field patterns. He had less than 300 hours when hired here; no CFI; and went right to the jet; which doesn't do many uncontrolled field or controlled field complete visual patterns. I learned this teaching my students; flying charter; flying my previous airliner (to many uncontrolled fields) and being a former Line Check Airman; which was very helpful in this area; and is some of the experience many of out jet first officer's will never get. We should be hiring CFI's/pilots with more experience. Better visual pattern training in the simulator and on IOE. Better briefs for pattern entry. We discussed the event; and what went wrong. We also discussed what could be done better in future visual patterns for planning; entry; descent; and CRM. He will do better in the future; but I'm not so sure about other inexperienced jet first officer's.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.