Air carrier was instructed to 'follow' traffic that was landing on a parallel runway confusing the f...

Narrative:

On descent we were speaking to TRACON. We were on vectors for the visual for 26R. TRACON called out traffic for 26L; another carrier's heavy; we advised in sight and would maintain visual. TRACON then stated; 'roger; follow the other carrier...he's for the left; you are cleared the visual 26R'. As we proceeded inbound; at about the time we pulled abeam the other carrier; ATC blasted us and said; 'company; what are you doing? I told you to follow the other carrier!' the captain responded with; 'we understood he was for the left; we are for the right...how do we 'follow' to separate runways'' TRACON did not like our query...we were never told that the other carrier 'should not be passed; etc.' at that time; we received a climb RA. We responded to RA for a short climb; followed by an uneventful landing on 26R. The other carrier also received an RA and chose to go-around. 'Company is cleared the visual 26R; the other carrier is for the left do not pass or overtake.' this is a phrase we have all heard; and complied with. The controller upon initial check-in was clearly agitated with all four aircraft he was handling. He was very 'testy' in all his transmissions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier was instructed to 'follow' traffic that was landing on a parallel runway confusing the flight crew; the reporter noting the clearance was unclear and a 'do not pass' instructions should have been issued if required by ATC.

Narrative: On descent we were speaking to TRACON. We were on vectors for the visual for 26R. TRACON called out traffic for 26L; another carrier's heavy; we advised in sight and would maintain visual. TRACON then stated; 'Roger; follow the other carrier...he's for the left; you are cleared the visual 26R'. As we proceeded inbound; at about the time we pulled abeam the other carrier; ATC blasted us and said; 'Company; what are you doing? I told you to follow the other carrier!' The Captain responded with; 'We understood he was for the left; we are for the right...how do we 'follow' to separate runways'' TRACON did not like our query...we were never told that the other carrier 'should not be passed; etc.' At that time; we received a Climb RA. We responded to RA for a short climb; followed by an uneventful landing on 26R. The other carrier also received an RA and chose to go-around. 'Company is cleared the visual 26R; the other carrier is for the left do not pass or overtake.' This is a phrase we have all heard; and complied with. The Controller upon initial check-in was clearly agitated with all four aircraft he was handling. He was very 'testy' in ALL his transmissions.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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	1009394
Time
Date	201205
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 392 Flight Crew Type 4000
Person 2
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 525 Flight Crew Type 25000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Air carrier was instructed to 'follow' traffic that was landing on a parallel runway confusing the flight crew; the reporter noting the clearance was unclear and a 'do not pass' instructions should have been issued if required by ATC.