2011-03 · NASA ASRS report 941571
An air carrier flight crew was directed to make a go around when ATC failed to clear an aircraft on the runway for takeoff in a timely manner. The subsequent vectoring for a second approach was flawed as well resulting in a traffic conflict on final approach.
ATC cleared us for approach to ILS Runway 31R. After several minutes of excessive ATC radio chatter with other aircraft; Approach failed to hand us off to the Tower. We contacted the Tower inside the FAF. Tower told us to continue and then cleared another aircraft to hold in position for Runway 31R.At approximately 900 FT AGL; we contacted the Tower and asked them what they wanted us to do with the aircraft on the runway. Tower directed a go-around. We noticed traffic crossing overhead about 1;000 FT above us; moving east to west over the runway. Tower directed us to level at 1;500 FT. We leveled off at 1;000 FT due to impending conflict with other aircraft. The Tower then handed us to Approach.Approach vectored us for right traffic to Runway 31R but vectored us through final; and was about to send us around; again; but we acquired the runway visually; and continued with a visual approach to 31R. Once handed off to the Tower; they told us to maintain visual separation at 1;000 FT AGL with another aircraft that was one mile east of our position and co-altitude. We reported we were unable since we were in a critical phase of flight; and never visually acquired the traffic. We subsequently landed on 31R uneventfully.Assuming ATC training was involved; Supervisors need to take better control of the situation. ATC could not cope with so many aircraft on approach in the vicinity of the airport. The Tower also made an unreasonable request for us to maintain visual separation while descending below 1;000 FT AGL to land.
The Tower asked if we had Cessna traffic in sight less than two miles. TCAS indicated it was less than 200 FT separation from us. We told him that we did not have it. ATC told us that he had us in sight and to maintain a visual.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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