Narrative:

Passing utare intersection on lynsy 2 RNAV arrival into las, approach control cleared us for visual approach to runway 25L behind air carrier Y, B757. Discontinued RNAV procedures and started turn off arrival in order to follow B757. Not long after that, approach control asked us if we are proceeding direct to dusjo intersection (depicted fix on arrival, after utare). I responded in the negative and controller informed us that he had cleared us for visual approach after passing dusjo. Controller canceled our clearance for visual approach and cleared us back direct dusjo. First officer corrected back to dusjo (reengaged RNAV). We were subsequently cleared for visual to follow company B737 joining final from left base, approaching final approach course from our 8 O'clock position. Company was at least 5-7 mi away and below our altitude (descending out of 8500 ft). No traffic conflict was evident and the controller did not indicate that any problems and/or conflicts had occurred. There was an obvious misunderstanding/break down in communications. Neither I, nor the first officer, recall the controller clearing us for the visual after passing dusjo. We both interpreted the clearance to mean we were authority/authorized for the visual behind the B757, from our present position on the arrival. However, I do recall the controller mentioning that company would be sequenced between us and air carrier Y on the visual approach. Prevention: listen up, and if there is any doubt, verify!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-300 CREW WAS CLRED FOR THE VISUAL BEHIND AN ACR B757. THE APCH CTLR DID NOT MENTION FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS AFTER AN RNAV INTXN.

Narrative: PASSING UTARE INTXN ON LYNSY 2 RNAV ARR INTO LAS, APCH CTL CLRED US FOR VISUAL APCH TO RWY 25L BEHIND ACR Y, B757. DISCONTINUED RNAV PROCS AND STARTED TURN OFF ARR IN ORDER TO FOLLOW B757. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, APCH CTL ASKED US IF WE ARE PROCEEDING DIRECT TO DUSJO INTXN (DEPICTED FIX ON ARR, AFTER UTARE). I RESPONDED IN THE NEGATIVE AND CTLR INFORMED US THAT HE HAD CLRED US FOR VISUAL APCH AFTER PASSING DUSJO. CTLR CANCELED OUR CLRNC FOR VISUAL APCH AND CLRED US BACK DIRECT DUSJO. FO CORRECTED BACK TO DUSJO (REENGAGED RNAV). WE WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLRED FOR VISUAL TO FOLLOW COMPANY B737 JOINING FINAL FROM L BASE, APCHING FINAL APCH COURSE FROM OUR 8 O'CLOCK POS. COMPANY WAS AT LEAST 5-7 MI AWAY AND BELOW OUR ALT (DSNDING OUT OF 8500 FT). NO TFC CONFLICT WAS EVIDENT AND THE CTLR DID NOT INDICATE THAT ANY PROBS AND/OR CONFLICTS HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS MISUNDERSTANDING/BREAK DOWN IN COMS. NEITHER I, NOR THE FO, RECALL THE CTLR CLRING US FOR THE VISUAL AFTER PASSING DUSJO. WE BOTH INTERPRETED THE CLRNC TO MEAN WE WERE AUTH FOR THE VISUAL BEHIND THE B757, FROM OUR PRESENT POS ON THE ARR. HOWEVER, I DO RECALL THE CTLR MENTIONING THAT COMPANY WOULD BE SEQUENCED BTWN US AND ACR Y ON THE VISUAL APCH. PREVENTION: LISTEN UP, AND IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT, VERIFY!

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.