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This recent incident in San Francisco highlights several issues:

1. Crew’s Spacing Responsibility: Visual approaches in airports enhance efficiency but shift responsibility to flight crew for maintaining spacing and managing risks.
2. US vs ICAO Practices: There is a discrepancy between US aviation practices and ICAO standards.
3. ATC-Crew Safety Coordination: The incident shows the need for precise coordination between air traffic management and flight crews to ensure the safety of operations.
4. Night Approach Restrictions: Certain airlines have procedures that prohibit crews from conducting night visual approaches, and ATC needs to be aware of and accommodate these restrictions.
5. Managing Approach Delays: The delay in the flight’s approach raises questions about managing holding times and adhering to announced durations.
6. Risks in Night Approaches: Long-haul flights arriving at night using visual approaches might pose safety risks, considering crew fatigue and FAA’s SAFO.
7. Safeguarding Flight Operations: A comprehensive systemic approach is required to prevent compromising situations for flight crews, emphasizing effective communication, adherence to EAT’s, and crew judgment.
8. ATC Safety Guidelines: ATCs must be aware of safety guidelines (SAFOs) to ensure crew adherence and avoid jeopardizing safety.
9. Crew Safety Priority: Prioritizing safety over convenience is essential for flight crews.

 

This final point – ensuring flight crews are not hesitant to prioritize safety over convenience – is vital to maintaining the highest level of aviation safety. The KSFO incident serves as a reminder that aviation is a delicate balance of safety, efficiency, and coordination.