Narrative:

Before descent; I briefed a visual approach to 22L at dtw backed up with the ILS. On initial contact with approach control; they told us to expect visual approach to 22R and that the ATIS had changed. The new ATIS reported runway 22L closed. I asked the first officer to change the FMC to the ILS Y 22R and set the new approach frequencies.approximately 10 miles west of the field; we were cleared the visual to 22R. I maneuvered visually to line up with runway 22R; but the localizer indicated full scale deflection to the right. The CDU looked like we were lined up with 22R but at 500 feet the localizer still indicated full scale deflection to the right. We inquired about the status of localizer and tower advised it was operational. There are numerous bright lights just east of runway 22R which I mistakenly thought was the ramp (I have only been to dtw a few times) plus the localizer deflection led me to believe that I was lined up with the closed runway 22L. I opted to go around. We requested vectors to the ILS 22R and when re-briefing the approach; I noticed that it is an offset ILS (very small print on approach plate). We flew the ILS course and landed uneventfully. The 2.5 degree offset doesn't sound like much; but it lines you up significantly right of the extended centerline. The offset 2.5 on the approach chart is very subtle and I completely missed it. I have seen offset lda approaches before but never an ILS. Lining up visually with 22R the localizer will show you left of course which is where 22L is. If the approach chart could be altered to highlight the offset ILS or add it to the approach title; it might reduce confusion.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-800 Captain reported being confused by the offset ILS (111.75) to Runway 22R at DTW. The offset note was not detected and after being cleared for the visual to Runway 22R; it appeared that the aircraft may be lined up with Runway 22L and a go around was initiated.

Narrative: Before descent; I briefed a visual approach to 22L at DTW backed up with the ILS. On initial contact with Approach Control; they told us to expect visual approach to 22R and that the ATIS had changed. The new ATIS reported Runway 22L closed. I asked the FO to change the FMC to the ILS Y 22R and set the new approach frequencies.Approximately 10 miles west of the field; we were cleared the visual to 22R. I maneuvered visually to line up with Runway 22R; but the Localizer indicated full scale deflection to the right. The CDU looked like we were lined up with 22R but at 500 feet the Localizer still indicated full scale deflection to the right. We inquired about the status of Localizer and Tower advised it was operational. There are numerous bright lights just east of Runway 22R which I mistakenly thought was the ramp (I have only been to DTW a few times) plus the Localizer deflection led me to believe that I was lined up with the closed Runway 22L. I opted to go around. We requested vectors to the ILS 22R and when re-briefing the approach; I noticed that it is an offset ILS (very small print on approach plate). We flew the ILS course and landed uneventfully. The 2.5 degree offset doesn't sound like much; but it lines you up significantly right of the extended centerline. The OFFSET 2.5 on the approach chart is very subtle and I completely missed it. I have seen offset LDA approaches before but never an ILS. Lining up visually with 22R the Localizer will show you left of course which is where 22L is. If the approach chart could be altered to highlight the offset ILS or add it to the approach title; it might reduce confusion.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.