Localizer DME approach started, then cleared for VOR DME approach. Cleared as requested.

Attributes
ACN	287985
Time
Date	199411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gua
State Reference	FO
Altitude	msl bound lower : 9000 msl bound upper : 9000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bur
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B757 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach descent other
Route In Use	enroute airway : gua
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 12000
ASRS Report	287985
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Approaching gua from sjd (san jose, costa rica) we were cleared for the localizer DME arc runway 1 approach. We had just started the approach turning from the airway to intercept the 7 DME arc, when approach cleared us for the VOR DME runway 1 approach. The PNF advised we had started the other approach and asked how should we transition. I interrupted and said to just request the DME arc approach. The PNF did so and approach immediately cleared us to continue the arc approach all relatively benign except on later discussion. Neither of us were sure that we had ever received the initial 'arc approach' clearance. I thought we had, else why would we have the arc plate out. However the first officer is not so sure, thinking we may have only had it out because we had been briefed (by a route check pilot) that we would most likely get that approach. The biggest problem here was high mental workload because of minimal familiarity with the route and area, and continuous ATC language difficulties. It was the first flight into guatemala or costa rica by both pilots. We had a route check pilot with us from lax-gua, but were now on our own. Also contributing -- the captain received a late wake up at the hotel and in his haste, left his approach plates in the room (he had been studying them the night before). This added to the workload, as both pilots then had to share the first officer plates. Very awkward.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LOC DME APCH STARTED, THEN CLRED FOR VOR DME APCH. CLRED AS REQUESTED.

Narrative: APCHING GUA FROM SJD (SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA) WE WERE CLRED FOR THE LOC DME ARC RWY 1 APCH. WE HAD JUST STARTED THE APCH TURNING FROM THE AIRWAY TO INTERCEPT THE 7 DME ARC, WHEN APCH CLRED US FOR THE VOR DME RWY 1 APCH. THE PNF ADVISED WE HAD STARTED THE OTHER APCH AND ASKED HOW SHOULD WE TRANSITION. I INTERRUPTED AND SAID TO JUST REQUEST THE DME ARC APCH. THE PNF DID SO AND APCH IMMEDIATELY CLRED US TO CONTINUE THE ARC APCH ALL RELATIVELY BENIGN EXCEPT ON LATER DISCUSSION. NEITHER OF US WERE SURE THAT WE HAD EVER RECEIVED THE INITIAL 'ARC APCH' CLRNC. I THOUGHT WE HAD, ELSE WHY WOULD WE HAVE THE ARC PLATE OUT. HOWEVER THE FO IS NOT SO SURE, THINKING WE MAY HAVE ONLY HAD IT OUT BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN BRIEFED (BY A RTE CHK PLT) THAT WE WOULD MOST LIKELY GET THAT APCH. THE BIGGEST PROB HERE WAS HIGH MENTAL WORKLOAD BECAUSE OF MINIMAL FAMILIARITY WITH THE RTE AND AREA, AND CONTINUOUS ATC LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES. IT WAS THE FIRST FLT INTO GUATEMALA OR COSTA RICA BY BOTH PLTS. WE HAD A RTE CHK PLT WITH US FROM LAX-GUA, BUT WERE NOW ON OUR OWN. ALSO CONTRIBUTING -- THE CAPT RECEIVED A LATE WAKE UP AT THE HOTEL AND IN HIS HASTE, LEFT HIS APCH PLATES IN THE ROOM (HE HAD BEEN STUDYING THEM THE NIGHT BEFORE). THIS ADDED TO THE WORKLOAD, AS BOTH PLTS THEN HAD TO SHARE THE FO PLATES. VERY AWKWARD.

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.