TRACON controller described a loss of separation event during parallel visual approach procedures wh...

Attributes
ACN	1111651
Time
Date	201308
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 190/195 ER/LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737-400
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Approach Departure
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

A B737-400 was descending on a STAR and it was being vectored to final from the east. I had an erj-190 on a 190 heading and the B737 on a 130 heading expecting them to have the airport in sight. Previous aircraft had reported the airport in sight earlier with no problem. I asked the B737 to report the 'approach lights' in sight and he said he was searching. I had anticipated him being out of 6000 and 'approach lights' in sight in time so as not to be a factor with the erj-190. Don't anticipate aircraft getting the airport in sight. Use more positive separation when applying use of 30 degree intercept rule for simultaneous parallel operations.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRACON Controller described a loss of separation event during parallel visual approach procedures when anticipating arrivals would report the airport in sight as prior arrival had done.

Narrative: A B737-400 was descending on a STAR and it was being vectored to final from the east. I had an ERJ-190 on a 190 heading and the B737 on a 130 heading expecting them to have the airport in sight. Previous aircraft had reported the airport in sight earlier with no problem. I asked the B737 to report the 'approach lights' in sight and he said he was searching. I had anticipated him being out of 6000 and 'approach lights' in sight in time so as not to be a factor with the ERJ-190. Don't anticipate aircraft getting the airport in sight. Use more positive separation when applying use of 30 degree intercept rule for simultaneous parallel operations.

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.

TRACON controller described a loss of separation event during parallel visual approach procedures when anticipating arrivals would report the airport in sight as prior arrival had done.