Air carrier first officer reported executing a go-around while flying a right base; night visual to ...

Attributes
ACN	1405081
Time
Date	201611
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ABQ.Airport
State Reference	NM
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Widebody Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence

Narrative:

Given a visual approach to runway 26 with minimal vectors. Approach/tower is restricted from vectors due to terrain. During right traffic; lost sight of runway; went around; and flew south on a climb and vector. Runway lights were very dim. Re-attempted approach with left traffic; very tight area between runway and terrain to the east. Asked tower to increase lights; helped find the runway. Landed. Recommend not doing night visuals to runway 26. Long day; difficult conditions. We are encouraged to use rnp waypoints to fly the visual to 26; ATC puts you on a heading; making flying the line impossible. We are a very experienced crew and this could happen to anyone. Runway 26 should be daylight only due to lack of approach and terrain. Abq needs an ILS or RNAV approach to runway 21; and if winds prohibit landing 21 at night; don't go.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier First Officer reported executing a go-around while flying a right base; night visual to ABQ Runway 26 in strong winds and turbulence. A landing was successful following a left base visual; but the reporter suggested Runway 26 night visual approach should not be allowed.

Narrative: Given a visual approach to Runway 26 with minimal vectors. Approach/Tower is restricted from vectors due to terrain. During right traffic; lost sight of runway; went around; and flew South on a climb and vector. Runway lights were very dim. Re-attempted approach with left traffic; very tight area between runway and terrain to the East. Asked tower to increase lights; helped find the runway. Landed. Recommend not doing night visuals to Runway 26. Long Day; Difficult Conditions. We are encouraged to use RNP waypoints to fly the visual to 26; ATC puts you on a heading; making flying the line impossible. We are a very experienced crew and this could happen to anyone. Runway 26 should be daylight only due to lack of approach and terrain. ABQ needs an ILS or RNAV approach to Runway 21; and if winds prohibit landing 21 at night; don't go.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Air carrier first officer reported executing a go-around while flying a right base; night visual to abq runway 26 in strong winds and turbulence. A landing was successful following a left base visual; but the reporter suggested runway 26 night visual approach should not be allowed.