B757-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
Our clearance was to proceed direct to HADAN and intercept the localizer for Runway 36R at MEM. We were proceeding west; direct to HADAN at the time. About 12 miles east of HADAN waypoint we got a false localizer capture abeam Olive Branch airport. I noticed it immediately and disconnected the autopilot and hand flew toward HADAN; without any course deviation. We reported the false localizer to ATC and the Controller advised us that it is a recurring problem for Runway 36R at MEM and that he would report the problem. Approaching HADAN I reconnected the autopilot in LNAV; we reselected the localizer to MEM 36R and it captured normally. There was no deviation from course or altitude but capturing a false localizer has been a recurring problem to this runway based on reading flight safety reports. The FAA needs to de-conflict the localizer frequencies or take some measure to prevent a repeated problem. Perhaps a NOTAM is in order until a more permanent solution is found.
A B757-200 Captain encountered an autoflight false localizer capture 12 NM east of the Runway 36R localizer at MEM; a recurring problem per the Tower. Operating in VMC; he disconnected autoflight and continued to a normal intercept; approach and landing.