Air carrier X issued speed restr contrary to controller handbook.

Attributes
ACN	281287
Time
Date	199408
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : sfo
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1500 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : oak tower : sfo
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Jetstream 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	281287
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure
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

Narrative:

Air carrier X proceeding direct to sfo VOR (as cleared by approach). Because we had received no further clearance, I asked, 'what do we do after the VOR?' approach replied, 'heading 140 degrees.' after receiving descent clearance and a frequency change, I heard several aircraft, including a foreign airlines 747, being given a speed assignment of 150 KTS. (Approach never said, 'if able,' as required by the air traffic controller's handbook.) we were also given the 150 KT speed assignment. After switching to tower, I heard them inform a jetstream going to runway 28R that 'you have a (?) KT closure rate on traffic ahead.' the jetstream said, 'ok, we'll make s-turns.' we were on a visual to runway 28L and were not affected. ATC is consistently violating the rules for capacity enhancement. Any assigned speed below 170 KTS within 20 mi of the runway of intended landing requires pilot concurrence. The s-turn offered by the jetstream pilot is also inappropriate and could create a midair potential with parallel traffic when turning back in. Tower should have told him not to do it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR X ISSUED SPD RESTR CONTRARY TO CTLR HANDBOOK.

Narrative: ACR X PROCEEDING DIRECT TO SFO VOR (AS CLRED BY APCH). BECAUSE WE HAD RECEIVED NO FURTHER CLRNC, I ASKED, 'WHAT DO WE DO AFTER THE VOR?' APCH REPLIED, 'HDG 140 DEGS.' AFTER RECEIVING DSCNT CLRNC AND A FREQ CHANGE, I HEARD SEVERAL ACFT, INCLUDING A FOREIGN AIRLINES 747, BEING GIVEN A SPD ASSIGNMENT OF 150 KTS. (APCH NEVER SAID, 'IF ABLE,' AS REQUIRED BY THE AIR TFC CTLR'S HANDBOOK.) WE WERE ALSO GIVEN THE 150 KT SPD ASSIGNMENT. AFTER SWITCHING TO TWR, I HEARD THEM INFORM A JETSTREAM GOING TO RWY 28R THAT 'YOU HAVE A (?) KT CLOSURE RATE ON TFC AHEAD.' THE JETSTREAM SAID, 'OK, WE'LL MAKE S-TURNS.' WE WERE ON A VISUAL TO RWY 28L AND WERE NOT AFFECTED. ATC IS CONSISTENTLY VIOLATING THE RULES FOR CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT. ANY ASSIGNED SPD BELOW 170 KTS WITHIN 20 MI OF THE RWY OF INTENDED LNDG REQUIRES PLT CONCURRENCE. THE S-TURN OFFERED BY THE JETSTREAM PLT IS ALSO INAPPROPRIATE AND COULD CREATE A MIDAIR POTENTIAL WITH PARALLEL TFC WHEN TURNING BACK IN. TWR SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM NOT TO DO IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.