Visual separation is applied to parallel approachs to runway 34L and runway 34R at sea.

Attributes
ACN	527120
Time
Date	200110
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : s46.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 4700 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	527120
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : published procedure
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Miss Distance	horizontal : 2000 vertical : 1000
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance ATC Facility Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

We were proceeding visually to the mall on the mall visual for seatac airport. (Heading 035 degrees at 5000 ft MSL). Approach control told us to look for a B767 at our 1 O'clock position. As we approached the mall, we reported traffic to the east that was on a base leg to the airport. Approach control then cleared us for the visual approach to runway 34L and said the traffic was for runway 34R. I then turned toward the airport to make sure we wouldn't overshoot final. As we turned onto the final the other aircraft was right next to us, but at a safe distance. Approach control never said to follow the other aircraft or who was first for the airport. The other aircraft did tell the controller he was following us. We continued with the approach assuming we were first and nothing more was said by approach controllers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VISUAL SEPARATION IS APPLIED TO PARALLEL APCHS TO RWY 34L AND RWY 34R AT SEA.

Narrative: WE WERE PROCEEDING VISUALLY TO THE MALL ON THE MALL VISUAL FOR SEATAC ARPT. (HEADING 035 DEGS AT 5000 FT MSL). APCH CTL TOLD US TO LOOK FOR A B767 AT OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS. AS WE APCHED THE MALL, WE RPTED TFC TO THE E THAT WAS ON A BASE LEG TO THE ARPT. APCH CTL THEN CLRED US FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34L AND SAID THE TFC WAS FOR RWY 34R. I THEN TURNED TOWARD THE ARPT TO MAKE SURE WE WOULDN'T OVERSHOOT FINAL. AS WE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL THE OTHER ACFT WAS RIGHT NEXT TO US, BUT AT A SAFE DISTANCE. APCH CTL NEVER SAID TO FOLLOW THE OTHER ACFT OR WHO WAS FIRST FOR THE ARPT. THE OTHER ACFT DID TELL THE CTLR HE WAS FOLLOWING US. WE CONTINUED WITH THE APCH ASSUMING WE WERE FIRST AND NOTHING MORE WAS SAID BY APCH CTLRS.

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.