Narrative:

About 10 NM from dfw runway 18R, received a runway change to visual runway 18L. Proceeding towards what we thought to be runway 18L, we had backed ourselves up with the ILS. We observed and commented on what we thought to be false localizer capture. We rescanned the horizon and noticed that we had picked up the brighter approach lights to runway 17L/right. We advised ATC and immediately returned to the localizer runway 18L at about 5 mi from touchdown. This was followed by a normal landing. On taxi in, we queried ATC if there had been any loss of separation. Their reply, 'nope, you're the only plane out there.' suggestions: increase light intensity on recessed runway lights. I see this as a problem at airports such as dfw and lax where there are uneven parallel runways and differing light confign intensities. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter concerned with the mass of lights associated with dfw. Reporter acknowledges that he did not rely on his instruments, which did indicate runway 18L full deflection. Reporter suggests additional approach lighting to assist the flight crew in visually identing the multiple parallel runways. Dfw specialist advised that these type of reports are observed once every few months. He advised that controllers are vigilant and aware that visual disorientation can exist, and react as soon as practicable to the situation when observed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR FLC REORIENTS BACK TO RWY 18L AFTER REALIZING THEY ALIGNED TO RWYS 17 DUE TO BRIGHTER RWY LIGHTING.

Narrative: ABOUT 10 NM FROM DFW RWY 18R, RECEIVED A RWY CHANGE TO VISUAL RWY 18L. PROCEEDING TOWARDS WHAT WE THOUGHT TO BE RWY 18L, WE HAD BACKED OURSELVES UP WITH THE ILS. WE OBSERVED AND COMMENTED ON WHAT WE THOUGHT TO BE FALSE LOC CAPTURE. WE RESCANNED THE HORIZON AND NOTICED THAT WE HAD PICKED UP THE BRIGHTER APCH LIGHTS TO RWY 17L/R. WE ADVISED ATC AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE LOC RWY 18L AT ABOUT 5 MI FROM TOUCHDOWN. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A NORMAL LNDG. ON TAXI IN, WE QUERIED ATC IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY LOSS OF SEPARATION. THEIR REPLY, 'NOPE, YOU'RE THE ONLY PLANE OUT THERE.' SUGGESTIONS: INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY ON RECESSED RWY LIGHTS. I SEE THIS AS A PROB AT ARPTS SUCH AS DFW AND LAX WHERE THERE ARE UNEVEN PARALLEL RWYS AND DIFFERING LIGHT CONFIGN INTENSITIES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CONCERNED WITH THE MASS OF LIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH DFW. RPTR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE DID NOT RELY ON HIS INSTS, WHICH DID INDICATE RWY 18L FULL DEFLECTION. RPTR SUGGESTS ADDITIONAL APCH LIGHTING TO ASSIST THE FLC IN VISUALLY IDENTING THE MULTIPLE PARALLEL RWYS. DFW SPECIALIST ADVISED THAT THESE TYPE OF RPTS ARE OBSERVED ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS. HE ADVISED THAT CTLRS ARE VIGILANT AND AWARE THAT VISUAL DISORIENTATION CAN EXIST, AND REACT AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE TO THE SIT WHEN OBSERVED.

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.