B737-300
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 207; Flight Crew Type 207
Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
Approach was vectoring us to a visual approach to Runway 28L at SFO. We reported the two aircraft in front of us in sight and were told; 'Follow those two heavy aircraft; cleared visual to 28L.' Shortly after receiving that clearance on a 14-mile left base; configured Flaps 5; we encountered about three seconds of wake turbulence. Focusing on my spacing from the two heavies; and not wanting to tuck in behind them too close and encounter more turbulence; I turned off the autopilot and hand flew the aircraft through final to increase our separation. I was unaware that an Airbus was just slightly behind us on a visual to Runway 28R. As I went through final; I heard a TA followed soon after by a 'Descend' RA. I began what I thought was an adequate descent as I turned back to runway centerline; but in about five seconds heard a second 'Descend' RA and then a 'Clear of conflict' shortly thereafter. Just as the first RA went off; ATC gave us a traffic position on the other aircraft. Established back on centerline by eight miles out; we configured for landing and completed a normal approach and landing. If I had announced my intentions to delay my turn to final to the pilot not flying; he might have been more alert to possible conflicts with traffic to 28R and given me a heads up. Rather than allow myself to fly through final; a better option to avoid further wake turbulence would have been to fully configure early and advise Approach of our intentions.
B737-300 Captain encountered wake turbulence in trail of a heavy on approach to RW 28L at SFO. Reporter deviated from course to avoid the wake and triggered an RA from traffic on approach to RW 28R.