Narrative:

I was being radar vectored for the ILS 9 approach. I was told to intercept ILS 9 and proceed inbound. A while later I was told to slow to 170 KTS. I slowed down to maintain 170 KTS. Then I was told to slow to my minimum approach speed, which is 140 KTS. Then I was asked to say speed. My first officer replied, 'we're slowing to our approach speed.' at that time the controller told us to make a 30 degree left turn and then turn back to runway 9. What was happening was the controller was going to depart an air carrier large transport off runway 19 before our arrival. I was cleared for the visual to caution wake turbulence departing large transport runway 19 straight out. As the large transport departed the captain or first officer on the large transport replied, 'the small transport is pretty close.' the controller replied, 'yes, I told the small transport to make a 30 degree turn, but he turned back to the runway.' I was told to make a 30 degree turn to the left, then to turn back to runway 9 for a visual. The whole problem could have been avoided if the controller would of just waited for our arrival. We were not far out and we would not have delayed air carrier Y. Also, if the controller would have informed me of what he was doing and if he would have been more specific in the instructions, because he told me to turn 30 degrees left, then back to runway 9--not to stay on that heading.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLOSE PROX ACR-LGT ON TKOF ACR-LTT ON VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: I WAS BEING RADAR VECTORED FOR THE ILS 9 APCH. I WAS TOLD TO INTERCEPT ILS 9 AND PROCEED INBND. A WHILE LATER I WAS TOLD TO SLOW TO 170 KTS. I SLOWED DOWN TO MAINTAIN 170 KTS. THEN I WAS TOLD TO SLOW TO MY MINIMUM APCH SPD, WHICH IS 140 KTS. THEN I WAS ASKED TO SAY SPD. MY F/O REPLIED, 'WE'RE SLOWING TO OUR APCH SPD.' AT THAT TIME THE CTLR TOLD US TO MAKE A 30 DEG LEFT TURN AND THEN TURN BACK TO RWY 9. WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS THE CTLR WAS GOING TO DEPART AN ACR LGT OFF RWY 19 BEFORE OUR ARR. I WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO CAUTION WAKE TURB DEPARTING LGT RWY 19 STRAIGHT OUT. AS THE LGT DEPARTED THE CAPT OR F/O ON THE LGT REPLIED, 'THE SMT IS PRETTY CLOSE.' THE CTLR REPLIED, 'YES, I TOLD THE SMT TO MAKE A 30 DEG TURN, BUT HE TURNED BACK TO THE RWY.' I WAS TOLD TO MAKE A 30 DEG TURN TO THE LEFT, THEN TO TURN BACK TO RWY 9 FOR A VISUAL. THE WHOLE PROB COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE CTLR WOULD OF JUST WAITED FOR OUR ARR. WE WERE NOT FAR OUT AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE DELAYED ACR Y. ALSO, IF THE CTLR WOULD HAVE INFORMED ME OF WHAT HE WAS DOING AND IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC IN THE INSTRUCTIONS, BECAUSE HE TOLD ME TO TURN 30 DEGS LEFT, THEN BACK TO RWY 9--NOT TO STAY ON THAT HDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 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.