B737-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure; Airspace Structure
We may have descended thru floor of Class B airspace on a visual approach to SAN; the primary airport.Prior practice of ATC included a restriction to cross the 084 radial of MZB at or above 5;000 when issued the visual approach to Runway 27. In the past; this was issued to preclude descent thru the floor of Class B airspace when given the visual approach. ATC no longer issues this restriction even though the legal requirement to not descend below Class B airspace on a visual approach remains in effect. Although expecting ATC to issue this restriction (which they no longer do) and then not being issued it; I assumed I had already crossed the 084 radial. Given prior practices of ATC at SAN; there is the strong possibility of future problems. This is a safety issue due to transiting VFR aircraft directly below the floor of the Class B. Therefore; ATC needs to reinstate the prior practice of issuing the restriction to flight crew to cross the 084 radial of MZB at or above 5;000 FT when issued the visual approach to Runway 27 at SAN. This is simply in the interests of safety to preclude inadvertent descent below Class B. A note in the arrivals section of the airport information page to alert crew would be appropriate; including a note to build the MZB 084 radial on the fix page for situational awareness re Class B. Also; an arrivals note reminding crews of the restriction of descent below Class B airspace to a primary airport on a visual approach. Or a Class B overlay on the map on the ND in the future; perhaps.
While flying a downwind into San Diego level at 5;L000 MSL SOCAL approach cleared us for the visual approach for Runway 27. The Captain began to slow and configure the aircraft; as we were being set up on the typical slam dunk approach. In the past; Approach Control would give a crossing restriction for the visual approach but did not in this case. Not being given the clearance for a crossing restriction; we thought we were already inside restriction and began the descent. We may have encroached the class B floor while descending into San Diego.
A B757 flight crew was surprised when not given an expected crossing restriction to avoid descending below the Class B at SAN when cleared for a visual approach to Runway 27. They believe they may have; in fact; descended below thinking they had not received the restriction because they were beyond it.