Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 300
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Procedure; Weather
We were flying the SEAVU Arrival and ILS 24R transition. It was clear but there was ground fog that made forward visibility about 3 miles. As we were on approach shooting the ILS; SOCAL approach put a 777 in front of us which we called in sight as we were VMC above the weather. Shortly thereafter; approach cleared us for the visual and sent us to tower even though we had never called the field in sight and were shooting the ILS. We switched to tower and told them we were on the ILS; not a visual as we didn't have the field in sight. They then asked if we had the 777; which we didn't have in sight anymore due to the fog. They then instructed us to go-around which we complied with. It was a crazy go around; 'track localizer and climb to 3;000' and as I'm passing 2;500 feet; they tell me to 'maintain 2;000 feet MSL'; which required me to then do a descending go-around while still de-configuring. We were sequenced back in for another ILS approach. On downwind SOCAL again said this would be a visual approach which we said unable; you don't have the required weather for a visual approach. We were then given the ILS to 24R which went uneventfully.
Pilot reports of an approach into LAX where SCT Approach wanted them to do a visual approach. The weather wasn't good enough for them to do so due to a cloud layer and inability to see traffic to follow. Crew was sent around and then sequenced again for a visual approach which they told the Controller that they couldn't accept a visual because of the weather.