Narrative:

While operating part 121, flight pvd-mco, my first officer copied the ATIS as VFR, scattered clouds visibility 8 mi, visual ILS runway 17 VOR runway 18L. As we approached mco and worked our way around some scattered buildups for a planned runway 17 visual backed up by the ILS, the next controller (who was very busy with traffic) then slowed us to 180 KTS with a turn to a 270 degree heading at 4000 ft and said, to the best of my knowledge, to plan now for a VOR runway 18L approach. At this point, we were over sanford airport approximately 8.4 DME from orl VOR. We were then given a 240 degree heading, 3000 ft to join the runway 18L approach course, clear for the approach. Again, I didn't hear VOR DME if he said it. We did have the executive and international airports in sight but because of traffic, couldn't get a clearance for visual, so I instructed my first officer to set 2300 ft as we joined the VOR runway 18L approach which we both confirmed the altitude to maintain to the VOR. As we descended from 2800 ft, the controller verified VOR DME approach to maintain 3000 ft. At this point, we were at 6.2 DME/354 degree radial orl, so we climbed back up to 3000 ft to 5.0 DME, then flew the remainder of the VOR DME runway 18L approach with step-downs unlike the VOR runway 18L. First, I wish orl would tell you when they issue the runway 17 ILS approach, so that you can anticipate the VOR DME runway 18L approach or VOR runway 18L which ever they are using. Also, when copying the ATIS to have the PNF copy the approach as advertised. Although we did not bust the altitude on approach, it was close, but the controller was obviously watching our altitude, and I'm not sure if he has seen this before or not. I know this is an unusual operation at orl for controllers and flcs with runway 18R closed for arrs.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MLG CREW HAD ALTDEV.

Narrative: WHILE OPERATING PART 121, FLT PVD-MCO, MY FO COPIED THE ATIS AS VFR, SCATTERED CLOUDS VISIBILITY 8 MI, VISUAL ILS RWY 17 VOR RWY 18L. AS WE APCHED MCO AND WORKED OUR WAY AROUND SOME SCATTERED BUILDUPS FOR A PLANNED RWY 17 VISUAL BACKED UP BY THE ILS, THE NEXT CTLR (WHO WAS VERY BUSY WITH TFC) THEN SLOWED US TO 180 KTS WITH A TURN TO A 270 DEG HDG AT 4000 FT AND SAID, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, TO PLAN NOW FOR A VOR RWY 18L APCH. AT THIS POINT, WE WERE OVER SANFORD ARPT APPROX 8.4 DME FROM ORL VOR. WE WERE THEN GIVEN A 240 DEG HDG, 3000 FT TO JOIN THE RWY 18L APCH COURSE, CLR FOR THE APCH. AGAIN, I DIDN'T HEAR VOR DME IF HE SAID IT. WE DID HAVE THE EXECUTIVE AND INTL ARPTS IN SIGHT BUT BECAUSE OF TFC, COULDN'T GET A CLRNC FOR VISUAL, SO I INSTRUCTED MY FO TO SET 2300 FT AS WE JOINED THE VOR RWY 18L APCH WHICH WE BOTH CONFIRMED THE ALT TO MAINTAIN TO THE VOR. AS WE DSNDED FROM 2800 FT, THE CTLR VERIFIED VOR DME APCH TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. AT THIS POINT, WE WERE AT 6.2 DME/354 DEG RADIAL ORL, SO WE CLBED BACK UP TO 3000 FT TO 5.0 DME, THEN FLEW THE REMAINDER OF THE VOR DME RWY 18L APCH WITH STEP-DOWNS UNLIKE THE VOR RWY 18L. FIRST, I WISH ORL WOULD TELL YOU WHEN THEY ISSUE THE RWY 17 ILS APCH, SO THAT YOU CAN ANTICIPATE THE VOR DME RWY 18L APCH OR VOR RWY 18L WHICH EVER THEY ARE USING. ALSO, WHEN COPYING THE ATIS TO HAVE THE PNF COPY THE APCH AS ADVERTISED. ALTHOUGH WE DID NOT BUST THE ALT ON APCH, IT WAS CLOSE, BUT THE CTLR WAS OBVIOUSLY WATCHING OUR ALT, AND I'M NOT SURE IF HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE OR NOT. I KNOW THIS IS AN UNUSUAL OP AT ORL FOR CTLRS AND FLCS WITH RWY 18R CLOSED FOR ARRS.

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.