Narrative:

Parallel visual apches were in progress to sfo runways 28L and 28R. We were being vectored down the middle of the bay on right downwind. At about the san mateo bridge we were turned to a heading of 130 degree. A portion of 28L was closed, and approach told us that a heavy jet needed 28R and would we take 28L. We replied we would, but approach never cleared us to leave the 130 degree heading or clear us for the approach. We thought we saw the 'heavy', but approach never made it clear now we were to cross his approach path to get to 28L. Within seconds it was obvious there was a collision hazard. Captain ordered me to make a tight right turn and execute a go-around. Approach control was trying to thread a very fine needle, but never made it clear to the aircraft involved what he was attempting. Personally, I don't think the controller had the proficiency to accomplish what he was attempting to do. I believe all this ramming of traffic on the 28L/right visual approach is an accident waiting to happen.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOSS OF SEPARATION AND POSSIBLE NMAC BETWEEN LGT AND WDB WHILE ATC WAS ATTEMPTING TO SEQUENCE ACFT FOR VISUAL APCH.

Narrative: PARALLEL VISUAL APCHES WERE IN PROGRESS TO SFO RWYS 28L AND 28R. WE WERE BEING VECTORED DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAY ON RIGHT DOWNWIND. AT ABOUT THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE WE WERE TURNED TO A HDG OF 130 DEG. A PORTION OF 28L WAS CLOSED, AND APCH TOLD US THAT A HEAVY JET NEEDED 28R AND WOULD WE TAKE 28L. WE REPLIED WE WOULD, BUT APCH NEVER CLRED US TO LEAVE THE 130 DEG HDG OR CLEAR US FOR THE APCH. WE THOUGHT WE SAW THE 'HEAVY', BUT APCH NEVER MADE IT CLEAR NOW WE WERE TO CROSS HIS APCH PATH TO GET TO 28L. WITHIN SECONDS IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS A COLLISION HAZARD. CAPT ORDERED ME TO MAKE A TIGHT RIGHT TURN AND EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. APCH CTL WAS TRYING TO THREAD A VERY FINE NEEDLE, BUT NEVER MADE IT CLEAR TO THE ACFT INVOLVED WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING. PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK THE CTLR HAD THE PROFICIENCY TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO. I BELIEVE ALL THIS RAMMING OF TFC ON THE 28L/R VISUAL APCH IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

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.