B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 213
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
About 10 miles northeast of [the destination airport] at 4;000 FT; we were descending and being vectored for a visual approach to [the runway]. My First Officer noted that a parachute jumper was off the right side of the aircraft. I looked to the right to see if I could see them when I noted another jumper on the right front side of the aircraft. This jumper was clearly doing some evasive maneuvers to avoid us. The second jumper which I believe was a tandem jump passed down the right side of the aircraft about 150 FT away. I asked the Controller if he was aware of the jumpers. He said that the jump plane was being worked by a high side Controller. He then told us that the jumpers were not cleared to jump. He said that the higher Controller was holding the jumpers until we cleared the area. There was nothing on the ATIS referencing jumper in the area and there were no NOTAMS for jumpers. I called Dispatch on the ground and spoke to both the Dispatcher and a Station Director to make them aware of the event. ATC needs to stop vectoring us through jump zones when jumping is about to take place. If there is a jump plane in the air; we need to be vectored to stay clear. From the time a jump plane takes off until it has landed; that jump zone needs to be protected; just like airspace is protected for an aircraft on an approach into an uncontrolled airport. ATC protects the airspace until that aircraft reports on the ground.
On descent via a published arrival; we were level at 4;000 FT on a 240 degree heading when we passed two parachutes off our right wing. I was the First Officer pilot flying when I saw the first parachute pass 300-400 FT off our right wing co-altitude. The Captain then identified a second parachute; apparently maneuvering defensively to avoid us; pass 200-300 FT off our right wing; co-altitude. The Captain; as pilot monitoring; asked Approach Control if they were aware of jumping activity in our area. ATC advised that jumpers were; 'supposed to wait until you were clear.' The rest of approach and landing were uneventful.
The Air Carrier flight crew observed several parachutes in close proximity during approach to a major metropolitan airport. When they inquired with ATC; they received the response that the jumpers had not been cleared to jump.