An air carrier medium large transport captain complains about the lda DME 12L approach at stl.

Attributes
ACN	231109
Time
Date	199301
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : stl tower : stl tower : ccr
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	approach : straight in
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	231109
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	procedure or policy : unspecified

Narrative:

After being cleared for an lda 12L approach to stl, we were turned over to the tower at 16.7 DME. The tower cleared us to land and asked us to fly to the 3 DME before turning to the runway. Approach had asked for 190 KTS till advised, so at 10 DME I asked the tower how much longer they wanted the speed. I was answered by the same approach controller. Now I am used to hearing 'final monitors' from time to time but this was like unicom at the local GA airport because after us he spoke to 2 other flts. All this time, the tower is working flts on and off the runway, not to mention the aircraft on 12R ILS on the TCASII and who the tower would like you to find before you line up to land. (Lda 12L is an offset approach.) I feel they should find a system that has less overlap of controller duties.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR MLG CAPT COMPLAINS ABOUT THE LDA DME 12L APCH AT STL.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR AN LDA 12L APCH TO STL, WE WERE TURNED OVER TO THE TWR AT 16.7 DME. THE TWR CLRED US TO LAND AND ASKED US TO FLY TO THE 3 DME BEFORE TURNING TO THE RWY. APCH HAD ASKED FOR 190 KTS TILL ADVISED, SO AT 10 DME I ASKED THE TWR HOW MUCH LONGER THEY WANTED THE SPD. I WAS ANSWERED BY THE SAME APCH CTLR. NOW I AM USED TO HEARING 'FINAL MONITORS' FROM TIME TO TIME BUT THIS WAS LIKE UNICOM AT THE LCL GA ARPT BECAUSE AFTER US HE SPOKE TO 2 OTHER FLTS. ALL THIS TIME, THE TWR IS WORKING FLTS ON AND OFF THE RWY, NOT TO MENTION THE ACFT ON 12R ILS ON THE TCASII AND WHO THE TWR WOULD LIKE YOU TO FIND BEFORE YOU LINE UP TO LAND. (LDA 12L IS AN OFFSET APCH.) I FEEL THEY SHOULD FIND A SYS THAT HAS LESS OVERLAP OF CTLR DUTIES.

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