Narrative:

I was the captain and pilot flying on a B757 landing sfo runway 28L in night VMC conditions. B767 landed runway 28R approximately 1/4 mile behind us. My concern is that arriving aircraft on simultaneous visual approaches to runways 28L/right at sfo are closely spaced wing tip to wing tip; but on different approach control frequencies. It is frequently ambiguous whether or not the other aircraft also has you in visual contact. Typically; you try not to pass the other airplane in order to maintain visual contact to touchdown. In this case; both aircraft got into a race to fall back behind the other; slowing to target approach airspeed early in the approach. The result this time was that the B767 for 28R won; leaving us to query ATC if the B767 had us in sight. My first officer first officer queried norcal approach if they had us in sight; but he could not get an answer. On very short final; the first officer looked back; but reported that he could no longer see that aircraft. About 1 hour after landing; I telephoned norcal approach. The facility manager called back within 10 minutes after talking to the controller on duty; and reported the following. Both aircraft were instructed to maintain visual separation and both aircraft reported the other aircraft in sight. Radar history showed about 1/4 mile stagger on 1-mile final with the B777 landing ahead of us on 28L. The aircraft on 28R were on a separate TRACON frequencies so we never hear those transmissions. The tower expects; and norcal routinely pairs arriving aircraft so as to leave a gap for departing aircraft on the crossing runways. Radar history showed one rj departure in the gap between us and the heavy B777; and two departures in the gap behind us.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier flight crew landing SFO expressed concern regarding ATC's application of visual separation between two aircraft on different frequencies landing on the closely spaced parallel runways.

Narrative: I was the Captain and Pilot Flying on a B757 landing SFO Runway 28L in night VMC conditions. B767 landed Runway 28R approximately 1/4 mile behind us. My concern is that arriving aircraft on simultaneous visual approaches to Runways 28L/R at SFO are closely spaced wing tip to wing tip; but on different Approach Control frequencies. It is frequently ambiguous whether or not the other aircraft also has you in visual contact. Typically; you try not to pass the other airplane in order to maintain visual contact to touchdown. In this case; both aircraft got into a race to fall back behind the other; slowing to target approach airspeed early in the approach. The result this time was that the B767 for 28R won; leaving us to query ATC if the B767 had us in sight. My First Officer F/O queried NorCal Approach if they had us in sight; but he could not get an answer. On very short final; the F/O looked back; but reported that he could no longer see that aircraft. About 1 hour after landing; I telephoned NorCal Approach. The facility Manager called back within 10 minutes after talking to the Controller on duty; and reported the following. Both aircraft were instructed to maintain visual separation and both aircraft reported the other aircraft in sight. RADAR history showed about 1/4 mile stagger on 1-mile final with the B777 landing ahead of us on 28L. The aircraft on 28R were on a separate TRACON frequencies so we never hear those transmissions. The Tower expects; and NorCal routinely pairs arriving aircraft so as to leave a gap for departing aircraft on the crossing runways. RADAR history showed one RJ departure in the gap between us and the Heavy B777; and two departures in the gap behind us.

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.