Narrative:

Due to crosswinds reaching near maximum and several reported go-a-rounds; we coordinated with dispatch and ATC desk in cruise to utilize a different runway. We were eventually cleared the RNAV (rnp) Z approach to the different runway. Established on the approach we were handed off to tower. Shortly before a fix the tower controller started making some interesting and quite distracting comments about us being 'high'. He said we would never make it being that high among other unusual comments as we proceeded to make the turns on the approach. The first officer and I verified our course; clearance and aircraft performance several times to ensure we weren't missing anything. Finally; we told the tower controller that we were cleared to fly the RNAV Z approach. No further comments were heard and we landed uneventfully.I called the tower to discuss the ordeal and found that approach apparently never passed along the information that we were doing the RNAV approach to a different runway in lieu of the ILS or visual approach to the advertised runway. He stated that approach told him we were just going to a different runway apparently never stated exactly how. Some aircraft were even shooting the ILS; circling to land. So in essence it apparently appeared to him that we were very high for a visual approach as we were number two for landing behind an aircraft on short final. His expectation bias; understandably so; caused him to assume we were doing a visual approach and the flight path he expected; was not commensurate with the flight path associated with the RNAV. However; the comments he made did introduce quite a distraction at; what I would consider; a critical time on that approach.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 Captain reported that a communication breakdown between ATC facilities caused the Tower Controller to believe they were flying a different approach.

Narrative: Due to crosswinds reaching near maximum and several reported go-a-rounds; we coordinated with dispatch and ATC desk in cruise to utilize a different runway. We were eventually cleared the RNAV (RNP) Z Approach to the different runway. Established on the approach we were handed off to Tower. Shortly before a fix the Tower Controller started making some interesting and quite distracting comments about us being 'high'. He said we would never make it being that high among other unusual comments as we proceeded to make the turns on the approach. The First Officer and I verified our course; clearance and aircraft performance several times to ensure we weren't missing anything. Finally; we told the Tower Controller that we were cleared to fly the RNAV Z Approach. No further comments were heard and we landed uneventfully.I called the Tower to discuss the ordeal and found that approach apparently never passed along the information that we were doing the RNAV approach to a different runway in lieu of the ILS or Visual approach to the advertised runway. He stated that approach told him we were just going to a different runway apparently never stated exactly how. Some aircraft were even shooting the ILS; circling to land. So in essence it apparently appeared to him that we were very high for a visual approach as we were number two for landing behind an aircraft on short final. His expectation bias; understandably so; caused him to assume we were doing a Visual Approach and the flight path he expected; was not commensurate with the flight path associated with the RNAV. However; the comments he made did introduce quite a distraction at; what I would consider; a critical time on that approach.

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.