Narrative:

ZZZ was landing on runway xxr; weather was reported at 3000 foot ceiling; so we briefed up the GPS RNAV X to runway xy circling to xxr which was recommended in the safety alert on the [company airport] page. The approach controller descended us to 7500 feet MSL; and we could not see the airport. Then he descended us to 7100 feet and we broke out of the weather. He cleared us the visual to runway xxr. We elected to continue flying the GPS to runway xy for terrain clearance guidance then circle to xxr as we got closer to the runway. Once we were handed off to tower control we were cleared to land runway xxr. I continued to fly the GPS to xy and pointed out to my first officer (first officer) that I saw [the runway of an adjacent airport]; ZZZ runway xy; and the 1000 foot markers for ZZZ runway xxr and was going to transition to runway xx around 1000-800 feet AGL. The tower controller kept asking us if we were landing on runway xxr. We assured him we were transitioning to runway xxr; but he kept asking us if we were sure we were landing on xxr; to the point that my first officer was thinking we were doing something wrong and asked the controller if we were messing something up that we were not aware of. And the controller said all was good and would explain when we landed. At that time I was initiating a slight base turn to intercept final to be wings level at 500 feet; but it was distracting with the controller asking so many times as to have us questioning our actions when we were following the safety alert suggestion. We landed uneventfully and while taxiing back; my first officer and the tower controller talked over the radio. He said that from his vantage point it is hard to tell that we are lining up on the correct runway. We explained we were using a circling approach to help with our terrain clearance and flying a 'dogleg' to xxr to intercept the final. He said we did not do anything wrong and that him not being a pilot did not know our procedures; and that he just wanted to make sure we were landing on xxr. I can understand how the controller could be concerned; but with him asking so many times was a little distracting at a somewhat critical phase of flight.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported being distracted by repeated questions from ATC during a circle to land approach.

Narrative: ZZZ was landing on Runway XXR; weather was reported at 3000 foot ceiling; so we briefed up the GPS RNAV X to Runway XY circling to XXR which was recommended in the Safety Alert on the [company airport] page. The Approach Controller descended us to 7500 feet MSL; and we could not see the airport. Then he descended us to 7100 feet and we broke out of the weather. He cleared us the visual to Runway XXR. We elected to continue flying the GPS to Runway XY for terrain clearance guidance then circle to XXR as we got closer to the runway. Once we were handed off to Tower Control we were cleared to land Runway XXR. I continued to fly the GPS to XY and pointed out to my FO (First Officer) that I saw [the runway of an adjacent airport]; ZZZ Runway XY; and the 1000 foot markers for ZZZ Runway XXR and was going to transition to Runway XX around 1000-800 feet AGL. The Tower Controller kept asking us if we were landing on Runway XXR. We assured him we were transitioning to Runway XXR; but he kept asking us if we were sure we were landing on XXR; to the point that my FO was thinking we were doing something wrong and asked the Controller if we were messing something up that we were not aware of. And the Controller said all was good and would explain when we landed. At that time I was initiating a slight base turn to intercept final to be wings level at 500 feet; but it was distracting with the Controller asking so many times as to have us questioning our actions when we were following the Safety Alert suggestion. We landed uneventfully and while taxiing back; my FO and the Tower Controller talked over the radio. He said that from his vantage point it is hard to tell that we are lining up on the correct runway. We explained we were using a circling approach to help with our terrain clearance and flying a 'dogleg' to XXR to intercept the final. He said we did not do anything wrong and that him not being a Pilot did not know our procedures; and that he just wanted to make sure we were landing on XXR. I can understand how the Controller could be concerned; but with him asking so many times was a little distracting at a somewhat critical phase of flight.

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.