Narrative:

[We were] landing into the sunset in haze but weather VFR. Cleared to land on runway 28. We were not informed of any traffic lined up and waiting on any other runways; probably because we were still on approach frequency. When we were cleared to switch over to tower frequency we heard ATC clear a heavy for an immediate takeoff from runway 22L. The heavy was clear of our flight path during our landing on runway 28. However; since the heavy looked close; and we were not informed that the heavy was on other runway; and it was our perception from the flight deck that it was safe for landing; I am submitting this report. We landed with no incident; but I am submitting this report since we could not judge the closeness of the departure from ours. Cause; ATC did not inform our landing flight of any aircraft lined up and waiting on the other runway which our landing flight path crosses. This would have been helpful to make judgment to go around since we were landing into the bright sunset in hazy weather but VFR. Suggestions; ATC should use caution and inform all pilots and aircraft landing of traffic that have been cleared to line up and wait on crossing runways and the reason for the line up and wait to the aircraft on the ground. We did not hear ATC clear the departure to line up and wait on runway 22L because we were still on approach control frequency. When we switched over to tower frequency and on final we then heard tower clear the departure for an immediate takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier crew landing Runway 28 at ORD voice concern that information regarding a heavy departure from Runway 22L was not issued by ATC.

Narrative: [We were] landing into the sunset in haze but weather VFR. Cleared to land on Runway 28. We were not informed of any traffic lined up and waiting on any other runways; probably because we were still on approach frequency. When we were cleared to switch over to Tower frequency we heard ATC clear a heavy for an immediate takeoff from Runway 22L. The heavy was clear of our flight path during our landing on Runway 28. However; since the heavy looked close; and we were not informed that the heavy was on other runway; and it was our perception from the flight deck that it was safe for landing; I am submitting this report. We landed with no incident; but I am submitting this report since we could not judge the closeness of the departure from ours. Cause; ATC did not inform our landing flight of any aircraft lined up and waiting on the other runway which our landing flight path crosses. This would have been helpful to make judgment to go around since we were landing into the bright sunset in hazy weather but VFR. Suggestions; ATC should use caution and inform all pilots and aircraft landing of traffic that have been cleared to line up and wait on crossing runways and the reason for the line up and wait to the aircraft on the ground. We did not hear ATC clear the departure to line up and wait on Runway 22L because we were still on Approach Control frequency. When we switched over to Tower frequency and on final we then heard Tower clear the departure for an immediate takeoff.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.