Air carrier landing sfo was issued a go around by ATC because traffic and speed assignments could no...

Narrative:

Vectors for visual approach; final turn to intercept. Controller pointed out traffic on right base to final for parallel runway; and directed to maintain visual separation. This is a constant issue at sfo since after the intercept of final; the aircraft we are told to maintain separation with will often be past abeam at 4 o'clock; making visual contact virtually impossible; but we do our best to comply. On this approach; we were subsequently directed to report traffic at our ten o'clock position; intercepting the final to our runway in front of us. We reported that traffic in sight. We were then directed to maintain visual separation with both aircraft; to maintain 180 KTS; and not overtake the aircraft to our right for the parallel runway. Since that aircraft was a regional jet (lower approach speed) and was already abeam to slightly behind us; and since the other aircraft was at our ten o'clock position on the opposite side; I informed the controller that we could not comply with his instructions/restrictions on our visual approach. He seemed incredulous that we could not do the impossible; canceled our approach clearance; and re-sequenced us for the approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier landing SFO was issued a go around by ATC because traffic and speed assignments could not be achieved; the reporter voicing concern regarding the NCT Controller's technique and speed/visual separation requests.

Narrative: Vectors for visual approach; final turn to intercept. Controller pointed out traffic on right base to final for parallel runway; and directed to maintain visual separation. This is a constant issue at SFO since after the intercept of final; the aircraft we are told to maintain separation with will often be past abeam at 4 o'clock; making visual contact virtually impossible; but we do our best to comply. On this approach; we were subsequently directed to report traffic at our ten o'clock position; intercepting the final to our runway in front of us. We reported that traffic in sight. We were then directed to maintain visual separation with both aircraft; to maintain 180 KTS; and not overtake the aircraft to our right for the parallel runway. Since that aircraft was a regional jet (lower approach speed) and was already abeam to slightly behind us; and since the other aircraft was at our ten o'clock position on the opposite side; I informed the Controller that we could not comply with his instructions/restrictions on our visual approach. He seemed incredulous that we could not do the impossible; canceled our approach clearance; and re-sequenced us for the approach.

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	918920
Time
Date	201011
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 60 Flight Crew Total 18700 Flight Crew Type 4800
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Air carrier landing sfo was issued a go around by ATC because traffic and speed assignments could not be achieved; the reporter voicing concern regarding the nct controller's technique and speed/visual separation requests.