Sfo controller described a confused passing situation during visual side-by operations to runway's 2...

Narrative:

A B777 advised in on frequency; traffic off of their left was passing when they were told they would stay behind. I asked the B777 to advise intentions. They said they were good if I was. I advised maintain visual separation from the traffic and they acknowledged. The A319 checked in advised 'for what it's worth' they were told each were maintaining visual separation; no mention of not passing. The B777 said; 'that is just what I was told.' I advised that they were on separate frequencies and that I would report the occurrence. This is a convoluted issue and there is way too much ambiguity amongst the participants. We know that aircraft have gone around because of not only TCAS RA's; but also because they did not want to pass or be passed on final. At some point there needs to be a repair to this process; I just don't know how it will be accomplished or who entirely it will involve. I suggest a meeting in a relaxed atmosphere with controllers and management from nct and sfo and pilots from the companies as a starting point to get all of the issues on the table collectively. Once the points are known; start focusing on a long term solution based on the feed back received.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SFO Controller described a confused passing situation during visual side-by operations to Runway's 28; suggesting increased communications between all the participants is needed to clarify procedures.

Narrative: A B777 advised in on frequency; traffic off of their left was passing when they were told they would stay behind. I asked the B777 to advise intentions. They said they were good if I was. I advised maintain visual separation from the traffic and they acknowledged. The A319 checked in advised 'for what it's worth' they were told each were maintaining visual separation; no mention of not passing. The B777 said; 'That is just what I was told.' I advised that they were on separate frequencies and that I would report the occurrence. This is a convoluted issue and there is way too much ambiguity amongst the participants. We know that aircraft have gone around because of not only TCAS RA's; but also because they did not want to pass or be passed on final. At some point there needs to be a repair to this process; I just don't know how it will be accomplished or who entirely it will involve. I suggest a meeting in a relaxed atmosphere with controllers and management from NCT and SFO and pilots from the companies as a starting point to get all of the issues on the table collectively. Once the points are known; start focusing on a long term solution based on the feed back received.

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	985090
Time
Date	201112
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	SFO.Airport
State Reference	CA
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types

Sfo controller described a confused passing situation during visual side-by operations to runway's 28; suggesting increased communications between all the participants is needed to clarify procedures.