Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Altitude Crossing Restriction Not Met; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
Cleared via KRANN RNAV STAR; expect Runway 22. Two minutes from KRANN we were re-cleared Runway 27 arrival. I forgot to put in 5;000 FT in the MCP. I was putting Runway 27 in the CDU and the CDU showed a route discontinuity after KRANN. Plus; I was unsure of tracking outbound on the 075 radial; or 078 radial. I think we were at 13;000 FT. About this time the co-pilot said we were supposed to cross KRANN at 11;000 FT. I said; 'What!!' We were already 1;500 FT high on the descent page. I disconnected the autopilot; pulled the speed brake; and made our crossing restriction.I did not know we were cleared lower. I thought only about the route. At this point I was still hand flying and we were talking about which radial to fly. I told the First Officer 'I thought the 075;' he said; 'the 075--then; no the 078.' I said 'What?' and he pointed to the inset [on the STAR chart which displays the additional runway transitions]. Boy!! I put 5;000 FT in the MCP; put autopilot on; closed up the route discontinuity; and began briefing the Approach. We then began getting vectors; conducted the approach and landed. After completing the parking check; I told the First Officer I had messed up. He said it was confusing and we were tired. I said; 'No excuses; I messed up!' It was my first time doing this arrival; I should have looked it over better. My fault; period. The next day we had a jump-seater in the cockpit who was commuting to work. After talking a while at cruise; I said; 'You probably don't fly into BOS; but if you do; be careful on this KRANN arrival. I messed it up last night and felt like a fool. I don't want that to happen to you or anybody else.' He said; 'That's funny; because I commuted last trip on another carrier's Airbus and those poor guys messed it up also. Maybe you ought to write a safety report.' I started thinking; if other pilots are also having trouble I should write this up to prevent some other poor guys from having the same trouble.
While descending via the KRANN RNAV STAR to BOS the flight crew of an air carrier aircraft suffered serious confusion and distraction when Approach Control changed their Runway from 22L to 27.