B757 crew lined up with the wrong runway while landing to the west at phl.

Attributes
ACN	487694
Time
Date	200010
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 16000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	487694
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended or assigned course flight crew : became reoriented none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Airport

Narrative:

New runway at phl is short and called runway 26/8. It is in line with runways 27L and 27R, just north 1/4 mile. Very easy to confuse. I have flown two approachs (visual night) with first officer setting up to lnd on the short runway. An education program would help, but at least phl tower must clarify there are 3 runways ahead, not two when cleared to lnd on 27R. Real fix would be to name runways 27L, 27C and 27R. This is a bad set up for pilots.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B757 CREW LINED UP WITH THE WRONG RWY WHILE LNDG TO THE W AT PHL.

Narrative: NEW RWY AT PHL IS SHORT AND CALLED RWY 26/8. IT IS IN LINE WITH RWYS 27L AND 27R, JUST N 1/4 MILE. VERY EASY TO CONFUSE. I HAVE FLOWN TWO APCHS (VISUAL NIGHT) WITH FO SETTING UP TO LND ON THE SHORT RWY. AN EDUCATION PROGRAM WOULD HELP, BUT AT LEAST PHL TWR MUST CLARIFY THERE ARE 3 RWYS AHEAD, NOT TWO WHEN CLRED TO LND ON 27R. REAL FIX WOULD BE TO NAME RWYS 27L, 27C AND 27R. THIS IS A BAD SET UP FOR PLTS.

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.