Narrative:

Dfw refuses to give runway assignment until on final approach controller frequency. We were assigned expect 18R. About 10 mi from 18R OM we were heading 110 degrees. We were cleared from 5000' to 3000' as we were tuning ILS and programming the FMC. We started down and approach control pointed out light plane traffic 12 O'clock, 5 mi at 4000', as we were passing 4400'. Controller's conversation took place as we were passing runway 18R centerline on 110 degree heading assigned. We finally saw traffic as we were passing halfway between runway 17R and runway 18L. I requested clarification of our runway assignment since we were still eastbound. I was pointed out traffic 2 mi on final for 17L and told our runway was now runway 17L and cleared for approach, contact tower on 126.55. We were turning final about this time over the marker for 17L and still set up for 18R. By the time I completed company required set up and briefing we were 400' above terrain. We were never cleared for approach for runway 18R. 1) even when asked, dfw will not assign a runway on initial contact.you must wait until the final approach controller. This precludes a timely NAVAID tuning and briefing at a safer altitude. The late runway assignment requires more heads down work when pilots should be clearing for traffic. 2) approach control should not change runways west/O a request especially in the aircraft with advanced cockpits because of the additional workload of programming the computer.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WAS VECTORED THROUGH THE FINAL APCH COURSE FOR ANOTHER RWY WITHOUT PRIOR COORD.

Narrative: DFW REFUSES TO GIVE RWY ASSIGNMENT UNTIL ON FINAL APCH CTLR FREQ. WE WERE ASSIGNED EXPECT 18R. ABOUT 10 MI FROM 18R OM WE WERE HDG 110 DEGS. WE WERE CLRED FROM 5000' TO 3000' AS WE WERE TUNING ILS AND PROGRAMMING THE FMC. WE STARTED DOWN AND APCH CTL POINTED OUT LIGHT PLANE TFC 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MI AT 4000', AS WE WERE PASSING 4400'. CTLR'S CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE AS WE WERE PASSING RWY 18R CENTERLINE ON 110 DEG HDG ASSIGNED. WE FINALLY SAW TFC AS WE WERE PASSING HALFWAY BTWN RWY 17R AND RWY 18L. I REQUESTED CLARIFICATION OF OUR RWY ASSIGNMENT SINCE WE WERE STILL EBND. I WAS POINTED OUT TFC 2 MI ON FINAL FOR 17L AND TOLD OUR RWY WAS NOW RWY 17L AND CLRED FOR APCH, CONTACT TWR ON 126.55. WE WERE TURNING FINAL ABOUT THIS TIME OVER THE MARKER FOR 17L AND STILL SET UP FOR 18R. BY THE TIME I COMPLETED COMPANY REQUIRED SET UP AND BRIEFING WE WERE 400' ABOVE TERRAIN. WE WERE NEVER CLRED FOR APCH FOR RWY 18R. 1) EVEN WHEN ASKED, DFW WILL NOT ASSIGN A RWY ON INITIAL CONTACT.YOU MUST WAIT UNTIL THE FINAL APCH CTLR. THIS PRECLUDES A TIMELY NAVAID TUNING AND BRIEFING AT A SAFER ALT. THE LATE RWY ASSIGNMENT REQUIRES MORE HEADS DOWN WORK WHEN PLTS SHOULD BE CLRING FOR TFC. 2) APCH CTL SHOULD NOT CHANGE RWYS W/O A REQUEST ESPECIALLY IN THE ACFT WITH ADVANCED COCKPITS BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD OF PROGRAMMING THE COMPUTER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.