A321
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
On approach to SFO on the FMS Bridge Visual laterally; with altitudes from ATC. We were cleared to descend to 3100 ft on the lateral course for the RNAV approach. ATC issued a traffic alert that there was a Cessna Station-air (C206) westbound at 3500 ft - 11 o'clock and 5 miles - hovering and taking pictures. As we were getting closer to the traffic on TCAS - not visually - I could see that we were going to have a conflict. The plane was in the same airspace as we needed to be on the arrival. ATC let us know that the Cessna had us in sight - ok great - but; I could still see that he wasn't moving out of the way as we were approaching from his 5 o'clock position. Finally; I did see him visually and he was westbound on our course to final for 28R. I leveled at 3700 ft - the Cessna was at 3500 ft - began a 30 degree right turn to avoid. Talking with ATC on the phone that same evening with the TRACON supervisor confirmed the 200 ft vertical; but he could not estimate the horizontal separation - my estimation was around 1000 ft horizontal. When we began our right turn ATC told the Cessna to break south and he did begin a 80-90 degree left turn. As he was well south of our course I turned back left and continued the descent to intercept our final approach. Oddly; we did not get a RA or TA from the TCAS system. Stable at 1000 ft - on target at 500 ft gate - landed without incident. Normal landing.Called TRACON from the gate - he said he would review the tapes and get back to me. Spoke with the TRACON supervisor - he said it looked ugly and vowed never again to allow VFR transition at that altitude and position. They did self-disclose and reports were filed within a couple of hours from this incident. ATC allowing VFR traffic into SFO airspace and not keeping track of where they are.
A321 Captain experienced an airborne conflict during the FMS Bridge Visual to SFO with a C206 which NCT had cleared onto the approach path on a photo mission. The reporter took evasive action and the C206 was instructed to turn south by NCT.