VNAV mode confusion distraction with subsequent line up on wrong runway.

Attributes
ACN	300097
Time
Date	199503
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bwi
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 270 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 350
ASRS Report	300097
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : clearance other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance other other
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I am fairly new to the aircraft airbus 320 type. Since chkout, company has forced me to fly different aircraft virtually every month (temporary call-up on B-757). Therefore, I am still not extremely comfortable with all the 'magic' push buttons on the airbus A320. Especially disconcerting is all the automatic mode changes in the vertical navigation/autothrottle mode. Approach control left us very high and very close to runways on downwind. During the 'slam- dunk' visual approach to runway 33L, we turned final and lined up with runway 33R. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to get the vertical mode of the autoplt and autothrottles to do what I wanted them to do. I finally turned off the autoplt and autothrottle system and hand flew it. By then, the damage was done and we lined up with the wrong runway. Bwi tower advised us to go around at about 1000 ft. Go around, return, and subsequent landing was without incident.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: VNAV MODE CONFUSION DISTR WITH SUBSEQUENT LINE UP ON WRONG RWY.

Narrative: I AM FAIRLY NEW TO THE ACFT AIRBUS 320 TYPE. SINCE CHKOUT, COMPANY HAS FORCED ME TO FLY DIFFERENT ACFT VIRTUALLY EVERY MONTH (TEMPORARY CALL-UP ON B-757). THEREFORE, I AM STILL NOT EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE WITH ALL THE 'MAGIC' PUSH BUTTONS ON THE AIRBUS A320. ESPECIALLY DISCONCERTING IS ALL THE AUTOMATIC MODE CHANGES IN THE VERT NAV/AUTOTHROTTLE MODE. APCH CTL LEFT US VERY HIGH AND VERY CLOSE TO RWYS ON DOWNWIND. DURING THE 'SLAM- DUNK' VISUAL APCH TO RWY 33L, WE TURNED FINAL AND LINED UP WITH RWY 33R. I SPENT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO GET THE VERTICAL MODE OF THE AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLES TO DO WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO. I FINALLY TURNED OFF THE AUTOPLT AND AUTOTHROTTLE SYS AND HAND FLEW IT. BY THEN, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE AND WE LINED UP WITH THE WRONG RWY. BWI TWR ADVISED US TO GAR AT ABOUT 1000 FT. GAR, RETURN, AND SUBSEQUENT LNDG WAS WITHOUT INCIDENT.

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.