Air carrier on visual approach to sfo runway 28L; at night; questioned ATC's technique reference poi...

Narrative:

On this flight; and also a recent flight; I was vectored to a visual approach runway 28L. On both flights I was given a sharp turn to final; to intercept localizer; and cleared visual approach. My concern is on both flights a 25-30 degree bank turn to intercept (and avoid overshoot of localizer) was required; and on both flights that turn pointed me right at traffic on visual for runway 28R. At night; the jet on runway 28R approach filled my windscreen with position lights and my situational awareness of separation was close to zero. I could only rely on my not overshooting. I was told we would be 'paired up' with a 757. We were given a last second; 90 degree intercept vector which put us alongside. I just don't see the reason to be pointing aircraft at each other. I see it as completely unsafe. I would also like to know specifically when I am 90 degrees to localizer; 1.7 miles from it; and the controller's last minute turn instructions are garbled or blocked; do I declare an emergency and intercept (which points me at an aircraft); or do I declare emergency and fly through localizer? It is going to happen.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier on visual approach to SFO Runway 28L; at night; questioned ATC's technique reference pointing parallel traffic toward each another; and then expecting a significant bank angle toward the airport; with conflicting parallel runway traffic.

Narrative: On this flight; and also a recent flight; I was vectored to a visual approach Runway 28L. On both flights I was given a sharp turn to final; to intercept localizer; and cleared visual approach. My concern is on both flights a 25-30 degree bank turn to intercept (and avoid overshoot of localizer) was required; and on both flights that turn pointed me right at traffic on visual for Runway 28R. At night; the jet on Runway 28R approach filled my windscreen with position lights and my situational awareness of separation was close to zero. I could only rely on my not overshooting. I was told we would be 'paired up' with a 757. We were given a last second; 90 degree intercept vector which put us alongside. I just don't see the reason to be pointing aircraft at each other. I see it as completely unsafe. I would also like to know specifically when I am 90 degrees to localizer; 1.7 miles from it; and the Controller's last minute turn instructions are garbled or blocked; do I declare an emergency and intercept (which points me at an aircraft); or do I declare emergency and fly through localizer? It is going to happen.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

Attributes
ACN	839251
Time
Date	200906
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Air carrier on visual approach to sfo runway 28L; at night; questioned ATC's technique reference pointing parallel traffic toward each another; and then expecting a significant bank angle toward the airport; with conflicting parallel runway traffic.