B737 captain describes a runway change during the seavu 2 arrival to lax that results in some altitu...

Narrative:

While on the seavu arrival and just inside konzl at 17;000 feet; we were told to descend via the seavu arrival for 25L. We had set up for and briefed 24L. I've been in this situation before like many of us have been; so I did like the reference notes suggest. Page one describes if you are outside of konzl; and page two advises if you are inside of seavu. Problem was I was inside konzl. Nonetheless; I did as it recommends: I selected seavu arrival; transition and runway (which gave me a route discontinuity). At this point I'm behind; high and trying to program the FMC. In short; by the time we had everything programmed and reconnected; we were slightly off course and were instructed to intercept the localizer after gaate. We could have verbalized; verified; monitored and intervened better as a crew. However; ATC puts an undue burden on crews at this point on the arrival to have to program the FMC and be heads down at a busy time. ATC needs to issue a runway prior to us starting the arrival and if they can't (or have to change runways on us well into the arrival); the burden needs to fall on ATC to get us back into position with more simple means: i.e.: a vector to intercept; or direct to a fix on the approach. Sometimes in situations like these I feel we are there to make their jobs easier; instead of the other way around. In the future; I will say; unable; and request a vector or direct a fix.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Captain describes a runway change during the SEAVU 2 arrival to LAX that results in some altitude and track deviations when the FMC is switched from 24R to runway 25L.

Narrative: While on the SEAVU Arrival and just inside KONZL at 17;000 feet; we were told to descend via the SEAVU Arrival for 25L. We had set up for and briefed 24L. I've been in this situation before like many of us have been; so I did like the Reference notes suggest. Page one describes if you are outside of KONZL; and page two advises if you are inside of SEAVU. Problem was I was inside KONZL. Nonetheless; I did as it recommends: I selected SEAVU Arrival; transition and runway (which gave me a route discontinuity). At this point I'm behind; high and trying to program the FMC. In short; by the time we had everything programmed and reconnected; we were slightly off course and were instructed to intercept the Localizer after GAATE. We could have Verbalized; Verified; Monitored and Intervened better as a Crew. However; ATC puts an undue burden on Crews at this point on the arrival to have to program the FMC and be heads down at a busy time. ATC needs to issue a runway prior to us starting the arrival and if they can't (or have to change runways on us well into the arrival); the burden needs to fall on ATC to get us back into position with more simple means: i.e.: a vector to intercept; or direct to a fix on the approach. Sometimes in situations like these I feel we are there to make their jobs easier; instead of the other way around. In the future; I will say; unable; and request a vector or direct a fix.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1211094
Time
Date	201410
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	SCT.TRACON
State Reference	CA
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-700
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	STAR SEAVU2
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 308
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Undershoot Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

B737 captain describes a runway change during the seavu 2 arrival to lax that results in some altitude and track deviations when the FMC is switched from 24R to runway 25L.