An air carrier captain expressed his belief that air traffic control at sfo often places flight crew...

Narrative:

We were being vectored off the golden gate 5; and effectively were on a high (6000') right downwind for 28R. ATC asked if we had a widebody in sight (for 28L) and we said yes. We asked for lower or an approach clearance and were given a turn for base and approach clearance... 'Keep the widebody in sight'; or words to that effect. We were very high and I could barely see the widebody low and abeam our aircraft. We were given progressively slower airspeeds; and it became very clear that we were too high to make a normal approach; so we went around. When asked by the tower what the reason for the go-around was; the first officer stated 'ATC'. The second approach (left traffic for 28L) was normal. On final for the 28s at sfo; when given the task of keeping another aircraft in sight by ATC; it is often difficult at best; impossible at worst; to do so. Many times the vectors set us up to pass the aircraft we are supposed to keep in sight? And there is oftentimes no information about the speed of the other aircraft unless we ask. This time; the whole 'keep in sight' boondoggle was exacerbated by us being 2000' high on the approach (held up there by ATC). In this case; a simple 'cleared for the approach' would have allowed us to extend the downwind in order to lose altitude; and then make a normal approach. I can only assume that we were turned to the base leg (high) so that we could continually keep the widebody in sight; not that it did us any good. 'Cleared for the approach' followed by (or proceeded by) restrictions that hamper a normal approach are not a 'clearance for the approach' but simply a way for ATC to load us; and take the pressure off them. These antics at sfo are maddening and unsafe. If a fix means landing fewer aircraft per hour; even in VMC conditions; then let it be so... This has got to stop.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier Captain expressed his belief that Air Traffic Control at SFO often places flight crews in untenable situations in order to expedite arrivals and departures.

Narrative: We were being vectored off the Golden Gate 5; and effectively were on a high (6000') right downwind for 28R. ATC asked if we had a widebody in sight (for 28L) and we said yes. We asked for lower or an approach clearance and were given a turn for base and approach clearance... 'keep the widebody in sight'; or words to that effect. We were very high and I could barely see the widebody low and abeam our aircraft. We were given progressively slower airspeeds; and it became very clear that we were too high to make a normal approach; so we went around. When asked by the Tower what the reason for the go-around was; the First Officer stated 'ATC'. The second approach (left traffic for 28L) was normal. On final for the 28s at SFO; when given the task of keeping another aircraft in sight by ATC; it is often difficult at best; impossible at worst; to do so. Many times the vectors set us up to pass the aircraft we are supposed to keep in sight? And there is oftentimes no information about the speed of the other aircraft unless we ask. This time; the whole 'keep in sight' boondoggle was exacerbated by us being 2000' high on the approach (held up there by ATC). In this case; a simple 'cleared for the approach' would have allowed us to extend the downwind in order to lose altitude; and then make a normal approach. I can only assume that we were turned to the base leg (high) so that we could continually keep the widebody in sight; not that it did us any good. 'Cleared for the approach' followed by (or proceeded by) restrictions that hamper a normal approach are not a 'clearance for the approach' but simply a way for ATC to load us; and take the pressure off them. These antics at SFO are maddening and unsafe. If a fix means landing fewer aircraft per hour; even in VMC conditions; then let it be so... this has got to stop.

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.

Attributes
ACN	885627
Time
Date	201004
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR Golden Gate 5
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Widebody Low Wing 4 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250 Flight Crew Total 10000 Flight Crew Type 800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach

An air carrier captain expressed his belief that air traffic control at sfo often places flight crews in untenable situations in order to expedite arrivals and departures.