B737 flight crew reported being vectored for a visual approach to runway 10 at atl but never cleared...

Attributes
ACN	1435183
Time
Date	201703
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	A80.TRACON
State Reference	GA
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 149
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 194
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance

Narrative:

We were being vectored to final for runway 10 in atl. There was a lot of traffic and ATC pointed out the traffic we were to follow and asked us to report him in sight. We were never cleared to join final. As I was looking for the traffic; the first officer stated that we needed to join final. I told him to query the controller but there was too much radio congestion. Instead of risking creating conflicts with other traffic on other runways; we decided to join final without a specific clearance. The approach controller then issued a visual approach to 10. The tower controller asked us to slow down in that we had an overtake speed with reference to the preceding traffic. There were no further incidents. I do not believe there ever was a separation issue.when asked to find preceding traffic; I lost sa (situational awareness) as I tried to find the traffic. I am thankful for the first officer who made me aware of the fact that we needed to join final. In the future; I will insure not to fixate on one specific task.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Flight Crew reported being vectored for a visual approach to Runway 10 at ATL but never cleared for the approach. Upon localizer intercept the crew initiated a turn on their own as the clearance could not quickly be confirmed.

Narrative: We were being vectored to final for Runway 10 in ATL. There was a lot of traffic and ATC pointed out the traffic we were to follow and asked us to report him in sight. We were never cleared to join final. As I was looking for the traffic; the First Officer stated that we needed to join final. I told him to query the Controller but there was too much radio congestion. Instead of risking creating conflicts with other traffic on other runways; we decided to join final without a specific clearance. The Approach Controller then issued a Visual Approach to 10. The Tower Controller asked us to slow down in that we had an overtake speed with reference to the preceding traffic. There were no further incidents. I do not believe there ever was a separation issue.When asked to find preceding traffic; I lost SA (Situational Awareness) as I tried to find the traffic. I am thankful for the First Officer who made me aware of the fact that we needed to join final. In the future; I will insure not to fixate on one specific task.

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.

B737 flight crew reported being vectored for a visual approach to runway 10 at atl but never cleared for the approach. Upon localizer intercept the crew initiated a turn on their own as the clearance could not quickly be confirmed.