A late runway change clearance as the airliner was only a few miles from the runway transition if re...

Attributes
ACN	1124461
Time
Date	201310
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	D01.TRACON
State Reference	CO
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach STAR Z 34R
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	FMS/FMC
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer Relief Pilot
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 94
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 17000 Flight Crew Type 300
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

I was one of two iros on our flight to den. We were filed and cleared to descend via the moltn RNAV STAR. Early in the arrival phase; we were told to expect the ILS runway 34R. About 3-4 miles prior to himom fix on the arrival; we were told to change our approach to the RNAV Z 34L. Almost immediately we were given the clearance; 'at himom cleared the RNAV Z 34R.' [predictably] the aircraft's FMS and mouse pad cursor allows nothing to happen 'quickly' in setting up the FMS for last minute approach changes. Being only a 'few miles' from the RNAV Z if [initial fix] (himom) it took us time to set up the approach and sequence the legs page so that the automation [matched our clearance]. In doing so; we flew past himom; and the autopilot did not sequence correctly [via the approach transition] himom; mcmul; bsayn; etc. The plane kept tracking south past himom. The crew and ATC coordinated a southerly vector with by which to set up for a visual approach to runway 34R. To our knowledge traffic separation was never lost and the approach was completed without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A late runway change clearance as the airliner was only a few miles from the runway transition IF resulted in a temporary track deviation as the flight crew attempted to program the change. ATC provided vectors for the subsequent approach.

Narrative: I was one of two IROs on our flight to DEN. We were filed and cleared to descend VIA the MOLTN RNAV STAR. Early in the arrival phase; we were told to expect the ILS Runway 34R. About 3-4 miles prior to HIMOM fix on the arrival; we were told to change our approach to THE RNAV Z 34L. Almost immediately we were given the clearance; 'at HIMOM cleared the RNAV Z 34R.' [Predictably] the aircraft's FMS and mouse pad cursor allows nothing to happen 'quickly' in setting up the FMS for last minute approach changes. Being ONLY a 'few miles' from the RNAV Z IF [Initial Fix] (HIMOM) it took us time to set up the approach and sequence the legs page so that the automation [matched our clearance]. In doing so; we flew past HIMOM; and the autopilot did not sequence correctly [via the approach transition] HIMOM; MCMUL; BSAYN; etc. The plane kept tracking south past HIMOM. The crew and ATC coordinated a southerly vector with by which to set up for a Visual Approach to Runway 34R. To our knowledge traffic separation was never lost and the approach was completed without incident.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

A late runway change clearance as the airliner was only a few miles from the runway transition if resulted in a temporary track deviation as the flight crew attempted to program the change. ATC provided vectors for the subsequent approach.