Narrative:

ATC tried to push a visual approach following B767 (5.5 NM ahead) into atl. We offered 'field in sight' and were cleared for visual maintain 180 KTS to cegro. Speed was reduced to 170 KTS. After B767 passed marker, it apparently slowed drastically. Approach asked if we could provide visual separation, we said no. Approach announced separation lost, turn to 360 degrees, climb to 4000 ft. We then were vectored for an unrequested and uneventful ILS. If ATC cannot maintain separation (appropriately behind a heavy in calm winds) with all its equipment, how are we supposed to maintain a 5 NM separation visually? This follow the leader to the airport, ATC shortened, has resulted in the sloppiest handling I've seen. You are frequently asked to follow an aircraft 1000-1500 ft above or below you, at 3 NM spacing while you're in a turn 10-15 NM out. Whoever is inducing this situation (ATC or airlines) by trying to increase capacity must be asked if it is worth a potentially fatal midair or wake turbulence encounter?

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN MD88 CAPT WAS CLRED TO FOLLOW A B767 ON A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 26L AND MAINTAIN 180 KTS UNTIL CEGRO. MD88 REDUCED SPD DUE TO THE B767 SLOWING DRASTICALLY AFTER IT PASSED THE LOM. APCH CTLR BROKE THE MD88 OFF THE APCH AND REVECTORED FOR AN ILS. MD88 CAPT UNHAPPY WITH ATC.

Narrative: ATC TRIED TO PUSH A VISUAL APCH FOLLOWING B767 (5.5 NM AHEAD) INTO ATL. WE OFFERED 'FIELD IN SIGHT' AND WERE CLRED FOR VISUAL MAINTAIN 180 KTS TO CEGRO. SPD WAS REDUCED TO 170 KTS. AFTER B767 PASSED MARKER, IT APPARENTLY SLOWED DRASTICALLY. APCH ASKED IF WE COULD PROVIDE VISUAL SEPARATION, WE SAID NO. APCH ANNOUNCED SEPARATION LOST, TURN TO 360 DEGS, CLB TO 4000 FT. WE THEN WERE VECTORED FOR AN UNREQUESTED AND UNEVENTFUL ILS. IF ATC CANNOT MAINTAIN SEPARATION (APPROPRIATELY BEHIND A HVY IN CALM WINDS) WITH ALL ITS EQUIP, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN A 5 NM SEPARATION VISUALLY? THIS FOLLOW THE LEADER TO THE ARPT, ATC SHORTENED, HAS RESULTED IN THE SLOPPIEST HANDLING I'VE SEEN. YOU ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED TO FOLLOW AN ACFT 1000-1500 FT ABOVE OR BELOW YOU, AT 3 NM SPACING WHILE YOU'RE IN A TURN 10-15 NM OUT. WHOEVER IS INDUCING THIS SIT (ATC OR AIRLINES) BY TRYING TO INCREASE CAPACITY MUST BE ASKED IF IT IS WORTH A POTENTIALLY FATAL MIDAIR OR WAKE TURB ENCOUNTER?

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.