B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250; Flight Crew Type 8500
Situational Awareness; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Company Policy; Procedure; Airspace Structure
Unable to achieve an acceptable start to the visual approach at SMF. We arrived via SLMMR RNAV. At the point where ATC cleared us for the visual approach; we were not going to be able to establish and maintain a successful stable approach. We were; effectively; dropped off too high and too fast by the SLMMR 3 RNAV. We requested a left 360 degree turn; from tower; in order to re-achieve a stabilized approach. The approach controller remarked that [air carrier] aircraft frequently arrive high; fast and unable to complete the visual approach off of the SLMMR RNAV.
B737 Captain reported the RNAV STAR they were issued placed them in a position for an unstable approach.