<< >> NASA ASRS Report 559992, September 2002

B737 crew is concerned when given a vector for a visual approach to dtw but is kept at a high altitude and speed until close to the airport, then cleared and released to the tower.

Attributes
ACN	559992
Time
Date	200209
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw.airport
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl single value : 7000
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : d21.tracon tower : stl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual approach : traffic pattern
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 2322
ASRS Report	559992
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

On approach to dtw runway 3R, we were kept high on the downwind with a speed assignment. Approach turned us in tight with a clearance for the visual. It took aggressive configuring of the aircraft to meet the profile and speed requirements of a stabilized approach. We were stable as required by our fom at our target altitude of 1000 ft. As pilots we continue to receive guidance and reminders of the importance of the safety aspects of a stabilized approach. Who is watching these controllers? Dtw is known for their high and fast turn on's. A less experienced pilot would've quickly got behind. Please get these approach controllers on the same page as our FAA approved training. In addition to the safety aspect of these sits they are very uncomfortable for our passenger.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CREW IS CONCERNED WHEN GIVEN A VECTOR FOR A VISUAL APCH TO DTW BUT IS KEPT AT A HIGH ALT AND SPD UNTIL CLOSE TO THE ARPT, THEN CLRED AND RELEASED TO THE TWR.

Narrative: ON APCH TO DTW RWY 3R, WE WERE KEPT HIGH ON THE DOWNWIND WITH A SPD ASSIGNMENT. APCH TURNED US IN TIGHT WITH A CLRNC FOR THE VISUAL. IT TOOK AGGRESSIVE CONFIGURING OF THE ACFT TO MEET THE PROFILE AND SPD REQUIREMENTS OF A STABILIZED APCH. WE WERE STABLE AS REQUIRED BY OUR FOM AT OUR TARGET ALT OF 1000 FT. AS PLTS WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE AND REMINDERS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF A STABILIZED APCH. WHO IS WATCHING THESE CTLRS? DTW IS KNOWN FOR THEIR HIGH AND FAST TURN ON'S. A LESS EXPERIENCED PLT WOULD'VE QUICKLY GOT BEHIND. PLEASE GET THESE APCH CTLRS ON THE SAME PAGE AS OUR FAA APPROVED TRAINING. IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THESE SITS THEY ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR OUR PAX.

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.