Corporate aircraft on visual approach base to cha observed aircraft lights; questioned ATC; and abse...

Attributes
ACN	850966
Time
Date	200909
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	CHA.Airport
State Reference	TN
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Transport Low Wing 2 Turboprop Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 14000 Flight Crew Type 2000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict
Miss Distance	Horizontal 7500 Vertical 1000

Narrative:

Approach cleared us for a visual to runway 20. Prior to turning final and requesting a frequency change to tower; pilot flying asked what the lights were. Realizing it was another aircraft; we started a right turn out and go around at the same time TCAS alerted us to traffic. Tried calling approach and got no answer from them on 2 calls. They answered on the 3 call. Tower had cleared the air carrier for take-off on runway 2 and approach cleared us for 20. They told us they were watching us when we questioned what was going on. After landing; asked ground control if we needed to call and they acted as if they didn't know what we were asking about. Chattanooga TRACON is an accident waiting to happen. These controllers have gotten worse and worse over the past few years. They can't do position and hold now because they say they are understaffed. They need someone watching the local controllers. I have been flying in and out of this airport for almost 30 years; and the past few are getting crazy. This is not the first time this type of situation has happened with my company.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Corporate aircraft on visual approach base to CHA observed aircraft lights; questioned ATC; and absent a timely response; initiated a go-around; reporter claiming recent CHA ATC services were questionable.

Narrative: Approach cleared us for a visual to Runway 20. Prior to turning final and requesting a frequency change to Tower; pilot flying asked what the lights were. Realizing it was another aircraft; we started a right turn out and go around at the same time TCAS alerted us to traffic. Tried calling approach and got no answer from them on 2 calls. They answered on the 3 call. Tower had cleared the air carrier for take-off on Runway 2 and Approach cleared us for 20. They told us they were watching us when we questioned what was going on. After landing; asked Ground Control if we needed to call and they acted as if they didn't know what we were asking about. Chattanooga TRACON is an accident waiting to happen. These controllers have gotten worse and worse over the past few years. They can't do position and hold now because they say they are understaffed. They need someone watching the local controllers. I have been flying in and out of this airport for almost 30 years; and the past few are getting crazy. This is not the first time this type of situation has happened with my company.

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.

Corporate aircraft on visual approach base to cha observed aircraft lights; questioned ATC; and absent a timely response; initiated a go-around; reporter claiming recent cha ATC services were questionable.