Narrative:

After receiving the ATIS, I briefed an ILS to runway 3R which would be the expected approach from our arrival. Initial approach controller confirmed this with vectors ILS runway 3R. Final controller vectored us for the localizer without stating runway 3R again. We captured the runway 3R localizer, at which time the controller asked if we were joining the right side rather than the left. We stated we were, as that was our previous clearance. He said 'ok, continue on the right.' there were no conflicts and nothing else said. I think on initial contact with the final controller he should confirm the approach, which is not always the case. If this is done on the turn onto final it is too late. We didn't catch 'join the runway 3L localizer,' if that is what he said.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SOME CONFUSION WITH A DC9-30 CREW INBOUND TO DTW AS TO WHETHER ILS RWY 3R OR RWY 3L WAS ASSIGNED.

Narrative: AFTER RECEIVING THE ATIS, I BRIEFED AN ILS TO RWY 3R WHICH WOULD BE THE EXPECTED APCH FROM OUR ARR. INITIAL APCH CTLR CONFIRMED THIS WITH VECTORS ILS RWY 3R. FINAL CTLR VECTORED US FOR THE LOC WITHOUT STATING RWY 3R AGAIN. WE CAPTURED THE RWY 3R LOC, AT WHICH TIME THE CTLR ASKED IF WE WERE JOINING THE R SIDE RATHER THAN THE L. WE STATED WE WERE, AS THAT WAS OUR PREVIOUS CLRNC. HE SAID 'OK, CONTINUE ON THE R.' THERE WERE NO CONFLICTS AND NOTHING ELSE SAID. I THINK ON INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE FINAL CTLR HE SHOULD CONFIRM THE APCH, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. IF THIS IS DONE ON THE TURN ONTO FINAL IT IS TOO LATE. WE DIDN'T CATCH 'JOIN THE RWY 3L LOC,' IF THAT IS WHAT HE SAID.

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.