Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Procedure
Event started on left downwind for 01R at LAS; CF fix in the MCDU for guidance. Assigned speed and altitude; no relief until vectored through the centerline; at which time clearance for visual was given. At this point we were very close and very high; due to ATC. We determined that a safe and stable approach could not be made; and executed a go-around; and advised ATC. As we passed 4;200 FT; busy configuring; still at TOGA; ATC assigned us 4;000 FT. We advised unable. As we passed 5;100 FT; ATC assigned us 5;000 FT; we advised unable. ATC then assigned 7;000. We leveled off at 7;000; and accelerated to 230 KTS; clean configuration. Received vectors for ILS 01L; landing uneventful.All approaches in LAS have a missed approach altitude of 6;000 FT. If we did not have to chance that in the middle of a go-around; it would relieve us from talking to ATC; and we can concentrate on flying and reconfiguring. Also controllers must realize that when an aircraft is climbing through or is close to an altitude on a go-around; it will not be able to level off there. And finally; controllers should not try to vector an aircraft close in and high and still expect that it can land.
ATC should not vector us so close to the airport and so high when doing visuals. Additionally; they should assign altitudes that are reasonable above the current altitude when aircraft is executing go-arounds.
Air carrier flight crew executed a go-around after being vectored through the centerline; and in close and high for a visual approach to LAS.