An EMB145 flight crew goes through 4 approach controllers and suffers a delay obtaining an approach ...

Attributes
ACN	636286
Time
Date	200411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phl.airport
State Reference	PA
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : phl.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	arrival : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 3000
ASRS Report	636286
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airspace Structure ATC Human Performance ATC Facility Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Intra Facility Coordination Failure

Narrative:

We were flying from bwi to phl. We checked on with phl approach and were told to expect runway 9R. We were being vectored for what looked like a 'double' downwind for runway 9R. We were given 2 subsequent frequency changes. The last frequency was very poor and weak. We were vectored over the top of runway 9R and I was expecting a left downwind. After a few more mi I asked what runway we were expecting, and was told runway 17. I told them we were told runway 9R but could accept the visual if we got lower. We were told to expect that. Right after that, I heard our previous controller on the frequency giving commands to other airplanes. I assumed a controller change. After about 5-10 mi and flying through the runway 17 approach course, I asked what they wanted. I was again given another frequency change. We were vectored around for a long final for runway 17. We had no further problems. There were 2 problems we encountered in this situation. First, too many frequency changes without proper communication between controllers at phl approach control. Second, I believe there is an outside possibility that the radio management unit may have switched to the standby frequency without input. Also the possibility that transmitters got switched at approach control. We made no inputs to either radio management units when we head the controller 'switch.' I find both of these unlikely.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB145 FLT CREW GOES THROUGH 4 APCH CTLRS AND SUFFERS A DELAY OBTAINING AN APCH CLRNC DURING 4 FREQ CHANGES AND LACK OF INFO ON APCHS TO RWYS 9R AND 17 AT PHL.

Narrative: WE WERE FLYING FROM BWI TO PHL. WE CHKED ON WITH PHL APCH AND WERE TOLD TO EXPECT RWY 9R. WE WERE BEING VECTORED FOR WHAT LOOKED LIKE A 'DOUBLE' DOWNWIND FOR RWY 9R. WE WERE GIVEN 2 SUBSEQUENT FREQ CHANGES. THE LAST FREQ WAS VERY POOR AND WEAK. WE WERE VECTORED OVER THE TOP OF RWY 9R AND I WAS EXPECTING A L DOWNWIND. AFTER A FEW MORE MI I ASKED WHAT RWY WE WERE EXPECTING, AND WAS TOLD RWY 17. I TOLD THEM WE WERE TOLD RWY 9R BUT COULD ACCEPT THE VISUAL IF WE GOT LOWER. WE WERE TOLD TO EXPECT THAT. RIGHT AFTER THAT, I HEARD OUR PREVIOUS CTLR ON THE FREQ GIVING COMMANDS TO OTHER AIRPLANES. I ASSUMED A CTLR CHANGE. AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MI AND FLYING THROUGH THE RWY 17 APCH COURSE, I ASKED WHAT THEY WANTED. I WAS AGAIN GIVEN ANOTHER FREQ CHANGE. WE WERE VECTORED AROUND FOR A LONG FINAL FOR RWY 17. WE HAD NO FURTHER PROBS. THERE WERE 2 PROBS WE ENCOUNTERED IN THIS SIT. FIRST, TOO MANY FREQ CHANGES WITHOUT PROPER COM BTWN CTLRS AT PHL APCH CTL. SECOND, I BELIEVE THERE IS AN OUTSIDE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RADIO MGMNT UNIT MAY HAVE SWITCHED TO THE STANDBY FREQ WITHOUT INPUT. ALSO THE POSSIBILITY THAT XMITTERS GOT SWITCHED AT APCH CTL. WE MADE NO INPUTS TO EITHER RADIO MGMNT UNITS WHEN WE HEAD THE CTLR 'SWITCH.' I FIND BOTH OF THESE UNLIKELY.

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.

An EMB145 flight crew goes through 4 approach controllers and suffers a delay obtaining an approach clearance during 4 frequency changes and lack of information on approachs to runways 9R and 17 at phl.