Narrative:

Upon handoff to dtw approach we were given 'ILS 21L' approach. Vectors and altitudes seemed normal for the approach. The controller then informed us we were being switched to '21R' landing and 'ILS 21R' approach. He then immediately switched us to the next controller. Vectors and altitude still seemed normal. Upon being given the final localizer intercept heading, the controller said 'cleared for the approach, maintain 5000 to robbi, 170 KTS to scofi contact tower 118.4 at scofi.' the first officer read back the clearance. I immediately told the first officer that the clearance was for an 'ILS 21L' approach and to request confirmation of the approach. Upon asking for clarification, the controller informed us we were on an 'ILS 21L' approach and that he was not informed of us being switched to '21R.' approach and landing to 21L was uneventful. After termination of the flight, I called the 'radar room' at dtw and asked if there were any problems noted with our flight. The supervisor stated he had no knowledge of any problems. Therefore, I assume, though we were IMC, that no traffic conflict existed. In my opinion the problem started with a communication breakdown between controllers and the final controller not specifically stating the approach that we were 'cleared for.'

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AFTER ACR MLG WAS CLRED FOR IAP ILS APCH TO RWY 21L AT DTW AND CTLR ADVISED HE WAS BEING CHANGED TO RWY 21R. ON SUBSEQUENT HDOF THE ACR WAS VECTORED FOR APCH TO 21L AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

Narrative: UPON HDOF TO DTW APCH WE WERE GIVEN 'ILS 21L' APCH. VECTORS AND ALTS SEEMED NORMAL FOR THE APCH. THE CTLR THEN INFORMED US WE WERE BEING SWITCHED TO '21R' LNDG AND 'ILS 21R' APCH. HE THEN IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED US TO THE NEXT CTLR. VECTORS AND ALT STILL SEEMED NORMAL. UPON BEING GIVEN THE FINAL LOC INTERCEPT HDG, THE CTLR SAID 'CLRED FOR THE APCH, MAINTAIN 5000 TO ROBBI, 170 KTS TO SCOFI CONTACT TWR 118.4 AT SCOFI.' THE FO READ BACK THE CLRNC. I IMMEDIATELY TOLD THE FO THAT THE CLRNC WAS FOR AN 'ILS 21L' APCH AND TO REQUEST CONFIRMATION OF THE APCH. UPON ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION, THE CTLR INFORMED US WE WERE ON AN 'ILS 21L' APCH AND THAT HE WAS NOT INFORMED OF US BEING SWITCHED TO '21R.' APCH AND LNDG TO 21L WAS UNEVENTFUL. AFTER TERMINATION OF THE FLT, I CALLED THE 'RADAR ROOM' AT DTW AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS NOTED WITH OUR FLT. THE SUPVR STATED HE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THEREFORE, I ASSUME, THOUGH WE WERE IMC, THAT NO TFC CONFLICT EXISTED. IN MY OPINION THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH A COM BREAKDOWN BTWN CTLRS AND THE FINAL CTLR NOT SPECIFICALLY STATING THE APCH THAT WE WERE 'CLRED FOR.'

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.