Narrative:

We were being vectored for a visibility approach to runway 27R at ord. Controller gave us descent to 2500', heading 220 degrees. As we captured the localizer I attempted to contact the controller to ask if we should intercept. He was very busy issuing instructions to other aircraft (parallel approach to 27L were in progress). We were going through the localizer when I was finally able to break into the frequency. The controller stated he had wanted us to intercept--gave us a hard over to return to the localizer. We intercepted the 27R localizer and continued the approach west/O further incident. I did not see any conflicting traffic from runway 27L. The controller continued at a very high level of activity. When we reached the OM he had not given us clearance to contact the tower. It was apparent that he was overloaded. We changed to tower frequency and completed the landing. The controllers--at ord approach tower and ground--normally do an outstanding job. However, I feel the supervisor should have recognized that this particular approach controller was overloaded.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLRNC CONFUSION BETWEEN ACR MLG AND APCH CTLR AT ORD.

Narrative: WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR A VIS APCH TO RWY 27R AT ORD. CTLR GAVE US DSCNT TO 2500', HDG 220 DEGS. AS WE CAPTURED THE LOC I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE CTLR TO ASK IF WE SHOULD INTERCEPT. HE WAS VERY BUSY ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS TO OTHER ACFT (PARALLEL APCH TO 27L WERE IN PROGRESS). WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE LOC WHEN I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BREAK INTO THE FREQ. THE CTLR STATED HE HAD WANTED US TO INTERCEPT--GAVE US A HARD OVER TO RETURN TO THE LOC. WE INTERCEPTED THE 27R LOC AND CONTINUED THE APCH W/O FURTHER INCIDENT. I DID NOT SEE ANY CONFLICTING TFC FROM RWY 27L. THE CTLR CONTINUED AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF ACTIVITY. WHEN WE REACHED THE OM HE HAD NOT GIVEN US CLRNC TO CONTACT THE TWR. IT WAS APPARENT THAT HE WAS OVERLOADED. WE CHANGED TO TWR FREQ AND COMPLETED THE LNDG. THE CTLRS--AT ORD APCH TWR AND GND--NORMALLY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB. HOWEVER, I FEEL THE SUPVR SHOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PARTICULAR APCH CTLR WAS OVERLOADED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.