Narrative:

We were cleared to lax via direct jli, pdz arrival for runway 25L at lax. Between jli and pdz, we were reclred via the vista 1 arrival to lax. At pdz, we were reclred again via the pdz arrival to runway 24R. Then we were cleared to descend via the arrival. We attempted to reprogram our FMS every time we received a new clearance. After passing pdz we aborted our attempts to reprogram our FMS and flew the aircraft in raw data. I don't believe we busted any altitude on the arrival. However, I overflew the localizer transition by 3 mi. This approach became hurried, disorganized, and borderline unstable, in order to comply with ATC instructions. With the new generation of FMS navigation, pilots have become 'uncomfortable' with raw data. We like to see the 'picture' on the panel. This uses up time and increases workload in the cockpit. 3 clearance changes in a short time period is unacceptable. This type of situation is becoming the norm. This is not my first experience with this type of erratic arrival into lax. If the controller would have assisted us by giving me an intercept heading for the localizer and descent to a new altitude, this would have been a simple task. However, doing my own navigating and descent profile and configuring the jet, quickly becomes an 'information overload' situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 CAPT ANNOYED WITH SCT CTLR MULTIPLE STAR AND RWY APCH CHANGE, UNABLE TO TIMELY INPUT FMS CHANGES, REQUIRED TO HAND FLY.

Narrative: WE WERE CLRED TO LAX VIA DIRECT JLI, PDZ ARR FOR RWY 25L AT LAX. BTWN JLI AND PDZ, WE WERE RECLRED VIA THE VISTA 1 ARR TO LAX. AT PDZ, WE WERE RECLRED AGAIN VIA THE PDZ ARR TO RWY 24R. THEN WE WERE CLRED TO DSND VIA THE ARR. WE ATTEMPTED TO REPROGRAM OUR FMS EVERY TIME WE RECEIVED A NEW CLRNC. AFTER PASSING PDZ WE ABORTED OUR ATTEMPTS TO REPROGRAM OUR FMS AND FLEW THE ACFT IN RAW DATA. I DON'T BELIEVE WE BUSTED ANY ALT ON THE ARR. HOWEVER, I OVERFLEW THE LOC TRANSITION BY 3 MI. THIS APCH BECAME HURRIED, DISORGANIZED, AND BORDERLINE UNSTABLE, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS. WITH THE NEW GENERATION OF FMS NAV, PLTS HAVE BECOME 'UNCOMFORTABLE' WITH RAW DATA. WE LIKE TO SEE THE 'PICTURE' ON THE PANEL. THIS USES UP TIME AND INCREASES WORKLOAD IN THE COCKPIT. 3 CLRNC CHANGES IN A SHORT TIME PERIOD IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS TYPE OF SIT IS BECOMING THE NORM. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF ERRATIC ARR INTO LAX. IF THE CTLR WOULD HAVE ASSISTED US BY GIVING ME AN INTERCEPT HDG FOR THE LOC AND DSCNT TO A NEW ALT, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIMPLE TASK. HOWEVER, DOING MY OWN NAVING AND DSCNT PROFILE AND CONFIGURING THE JET, QUICKLY BECOMES AN 'INFO OVERLOAD' SIT.

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.