Probably been mentioned but......yes, the ILS GP is not operational as has been notamed for some time now for 28L SFO.
Why didn't they do the RNAV(GPS)28L approach (as we did a couple of weeks ago in a b772), disengage the A/P at DA then hand fly the darn thing to the r/way like they do at every CAT 1 ILS they probably do everywhere else in nice wx, and still have A/T back up.
Even if cleared for a "visual approach" by the approach controller they can still hook onto the RNAV and not get into the murky areas of a real hand flown visual approach and the funny things that can happen with FLCH, hand flying and thrust HOLD.
Or did they let themselves get suckered into a visual approach with no instrument approach back up because the controller cleared them for a visual approach the instant he head those magic words "we have the r/way (or the aircraft in front) in sight".
The controllers in the US love those words 'cos then they can get rid of you.
This is assuming of course that nothing else was wrong and perhaps these dudes don't even know how to spell RNAV!
