Flight crew of medium large transport air carrier objects to visual parallel approach at sfo.

Attributes
ACN	108946
Time
Date	198904
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1600 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 7800
ASRS Report	108946
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
ATC Facility	procedure or policy : unspecified
Airport	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

Cleared for bay visibility approach on 095 degree right of sfo with altitude crossing restrictions. Airport was not in sight and approach was so notified. We were turned to the north for a delaying vector and cleared to 2600'. Advised approach we were in the clouds and could not see the airport.. After leveling at 2600' and turned to assigned heading of 260 degrees to intercept the 095 degree right, we advised approach that we were still in the clouds and couldn't see the airport. At this time we were watching an aircraft that was on a visibility approach to 28L. We were given a descent clearance to descend to 1600'. As we leveled we could see the airport and aircraft landing on 28L. Missed approach instructions were given by the tower, if we could not see the airport. If this is the wave of the future for visibility parallel approachs at sfo, I want no more of it. I will request full ILS approachs in the future.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG ACR OBJECTS TO VISUAL PARALLEL APCH AT SFO.

Narrative: CLRED FOR BAY VIS APCH ON 095 DEG R OF SFO WITH ALT XING RESTRICTIONS. ARPT WAS NOT IN SIGHT AND APCH WAS SO NOTIFIED. WE WERE TURNED TO THE N FOR A DELAYING VECTOR AND CLRED TO 2600'. ADVISED APCH WE WERE IN THE CLOUDS AND COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT.. AFTER LEVELING AT 2600' AND TURNED TO ASSIGNED HDG OF 260 DEGS TO INTERCEPT THE 095 DEG R, WE ADVISED APCH THAT WE WERE STILL IN THE CLOUDS AND COULDN'T SEE THE ARPT. AT THIS TIME WE WERE WATCHING AN ACFT THAT WAS ON A VIS APCH TO 28L. WE WERE GIVEN A DSCNT CLRNC TO DSND TO 1600'. AS WE LEVELED WE COULD SEE THE ARPT AND ACFT LNDG ON 28L. MISSED APCH INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN BY THE TWR, IF WE COULD NOT SEE THE ARPT. IF THIS IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE FOR VIS PARALLEL APCHS AT SFO, I WANT NO MORE OF IT. I WILL REQUEST FULL ILS APCHS IN THE FUTURE.

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.