Landing east of lax, the approach controller issues several runway changes to a B757 and a B727 which is finally straightened out by the tower.

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Attributes
ACN	589214
Time
Date	200307
Day	Wed
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax.airport
State Reference	CA
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon tower : mia.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : sct.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	589214
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe non adherence : required legal separation other anomaly other
Independent Detector	atc equipment other atc equipment : radar other controllera other controllerb other flight crewa other flight crewb other other : 3
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance controller : separated traffic
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While on approach to lax runway 6L, (original runway assignment), we were switched to runway 6R on approximately a 10 mi final. ATC notified us of traffic at 9-10 O'clock position, a B727. We acknowledged sight of the B727 and were told to follow the traffic. A few moments later we were told by ATC we are cleared for the visual approach to runway 6R and the B727 was for runway 6L and to now contact the tower. I then noticed as we were lined up for runway 6R the B727 was right in front of us for the same runway with only 1 1/2 mi separation. I told the tower we were cleared for the visual to runway 6R and the B727 was now right in front of us. The tower controller said 'sorry the B727 was for the right and we were now cleared to land on runway 6L.' this many runway changes in the last 10 mi is a setup for disaster. ATC needs to get their act together.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LNDG E OF LAX, THE APCH CTLR ISSUES SEVERAL RWY CHANGES TO A B757 AND A B727 WHICH IS FINALLY STRAIGHTENED OUT BY THE TWR.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH TO LAX RWY 6L, (ORIGINAL RWY ASSIGNMENT), WE WERE SWITCHED TO RWY 6R ON APPROX A 10 MI FINAL. ATC NOTIFIED US OF TFC AT 9-10 O'CLOCK POS, A B727. WE ACKNOWLEDGED SIGHT OF THE B727 AND WERE TOLD TO FOLLOW THE TFC. A FEW MOMENTS LATER WE WERE TOLD BY ATC WE ARE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL APCH TO RWY 6R AND THE B727 WAS FOR RWY 6L AND TO NOW CONTACT THE TWR. I THEN NOTICED AS WE WERE LINED UP FOR RWY 6R THE B727 WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US FOR THE SAME RWY WITH ONLY 1 1/2 MI SEPARATION. I TOLD THE TWR WE WERE CLRED FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 6R AND THE B727 WAS NOW RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. THE TWR CTLR SAID 'SORRY THE B727 WAS FOR THE R AND WE WERE NOW CLRED TO LAND ON RWY 6L.' THIS MANY RWY CHANGES IN THE LAST 10 MI IS A SETUP FOR DISASTER. ATC NEEDS TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

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.