Narrative:

Cleared mod 3 arrival into sfo. After cedes intersection we were given vectors to intercept the sfo 095 degree radial for the quiet bridge visual runway 28R. We were asked to report a visual on the san mateo bridge and asked to slow to 180 KTS. After a visual of the bridge we were cleared the quiet bridge visual runway 28R. Approaching the bridge we were advised by norcal approach of 2 brasilias ahead of us and to slow to 150 KTS and report the traffic in sight. We never did see the traffic. At the bridge we were asked again to report the traffic and again we did not see it. Norcal approach then canceled our approach clearance and told us to fly present heading and climb to 3000 ft. As we were in the process of complying; norcal told us to disregard the previous instructions; we were reclred the approach and that tower had accepted our handoff. As we were talking initially with tower we got a TCAS traffic alert ('monitor vertical speed'). As we leveled off per TCAS commands; we got a 'clear of conflict.' tower unaware of these alerts cleared us to land on runway 28R. As we were descending; tower asked again if we had the traffic in sight. We still did not. We next got an RA alert telling us to climb. At this point; we initiated a go around with tower. We feel that ATC traffic separation and coordination was extremely poor throughout this approach. It is very hard to see such small aircraft below us framed against gray/dark water.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 FLT CREW ON VISUAL APCH TO SFO EXPERIENCED TCAS RA WITH PRECEDING TFC PAIR LNDG ON RWY 28L-R AND ELECTED TO GAR.

Narrative: CLRED MOD 3 ARR INTO SFO. AFTER CEDES INTXN WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO INTERCEPT THE SFO 095 DEG RADIAL FOR THE QUIET BRIDGE VISUAL RWY 28R. WE WERE ASKED TO RPT A VISUAL ON THE SAN MATEO BRIDGE AND ASKED TO SLOW TO 180 KTS. AFTER A VISUAL OF THE BRIDGE WE WERE CLRED THE QUIET BRIDGE VISUAL RWY 28R. APCHING THE BRIDGE WE WERE ADVISED BY NORCAL APCH OF 2 BRASILIAS AHEAD OF US AND TO SLOW TO 150 KTS AND RPT THE TFC IN SIGHT. WE NEVER DID SEE THE TFC. AT THE BRIDGE WE WERE ASKED AGAIN TO RPT THE TFC AND AGAIN WE DID NOT SEE IT. NORCAL APCH THEN CANCELED OUR APCH CLRNC AND TOLD US TO FLY PRESENT HDG AND CLB TO 3000 FT. AS WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF COMPLYING; NORCAL TOLD US TO DISREGARD THE PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS; WE WERE RECLRED THE APCH AND THAT TWR HAD ACCEPTED OUR HDOF. AS WE WERE TALKING INITIALLY WITH TWR WE GOT A TCAS TFC ALERT ('MONITOR VERT SPD'). AS WE LEVELED OFF PER TCAS COMMANDS; WE GOT A 'CLR OF CONFLICT.' TWR UNAWARE OF THESE ALERTS CLRED US TO LAND ON RWY 28R. AS WE WERE DSNDING; TWR ASKED AGAIN IF WE HAD THE TFC IN SIGHT. WE STILL DID NOT. WE NEXT GOT AN RA ALERT TELLING US TO CLB. AT THIS POINT; WE INITIATED A GAR WITH TWR. WE FEEL THAT ATC TFC SEPARATION AND COORD WAS EXTREMELY POOR THROUGHOUT THIS APCH. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE SUCH SMALL ACFT BELOW US FRAMED AGAINST GRAY/DARK WATER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.