Narrative:

On approach to an 'expected' visual to runway 25L at phx, the controller gave us a descent from 7000 ft to 4000 ft and a vector to 350 degrees. He asked if we had traffic on approach to runway 25L. We replied negative. He then asked if we had airbus traffic at our 1 O'clock position on approach to runway 26. We replied affirmative. He paused, then said to keep separation from that traffic. At this point, we both wondered how we were going to maintain separation when we had no clearance to deviate from our assigned heading. Meanwhile, we were closing quickly on the localizer runway 25L on a 90 degree intercept. As we observed our aircraft go through the localizer, the captain (PF) began a hard left turn to avoid traffic and maintained altitude. While we were turning, the controller cleared us for a visual approach to runway 25L. At this point the first officer (PNF) confirmed we were clear of the traffic and accepted the clearance for a visual to runway 25L. This was followed by a normal landing to runway 25L. After landing we called both phx tower supervisor and the TRACON supervisor who both acknowledged problems with how our aircraft was handled.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CREW RECEIVE CONFUSING INSTRUCTIONS FROM PHX APCH CTLR WHILE DSNDING FOR A LNDG.

Narrative: ON APCH TO AN 'EXPECTED' VISUAL TO RWY 25L AT PHX, THE CTLR GAVE US A DSCNT FROM 7000 FT TO 4000 FT AND A VECTOR TO 350 DEGS. HE ASKED IF WE HAD TFC ON APCH TO RWY 25L. WE REPLIED NEGATIVE. HE THEN ASKED IF WE HAD AIRBUS TFC AT OUR 1 O'CLOCK POS ON APCH TO RWY 26. WE REPLIED AFFIRMATIVE. HE PAUSED, THEN SAID TO KEEP SEPARATION FROM THAT TFC. AT THIS POINT, WE BOTH WONDERED HOW WE WERE GOING TO MAINTAIN SEPARATION WHEN WE HAD NO CLRNC TO DEVIATE FROM OUR ASSIGNED HDG. MEANWHILE, WE WERE CLOSING QUICKLY ON THE LOC RWY 25L ON A 90 DEG INTERCEPT. AS WE OBSERVED OUR ACFT GO THROUGH THE LOC, THE CAPT (PF) BEGAN A HARD L TURN TO AVOID TFC AND MAINTAINED ALT. WHILE WE WERE TURNING, THE CTLR CLRED US FOR A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 25L. AT THIS POINT THE FO (PNF) CONFIRMED WE WERE CLR OF THE TFC AND ACCEPTED THE CLRNC FOR A VISUAL TO RWY 25L. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A NORMAL LNDG TO RWY 25L. AFTER LNDG WE CALLED BOTH PHX TWR SUPVR AND THE TRACON SUPVR WHO BOTH ACKNOWLEDGED PROBS WITH HOW OUR ACFT WAS HANDLED.

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.