A321
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
Converging ILS 9R approach; [we were] cleared below 3;000 FT. No distractions. Captain is pilot flying and all calls out were normal; configuring to final configuration prior to FAF; at about 500 AGL Captain hears VHF 1 clearing flights for approach and queries First Officer if we are cleared to land. First Officer says strongly 'yes we are cleared to land.' Captain visually scans landing area and determines all is safe and does a quick evaluation of threat of go-around at low altitude for bumbling First Officer or continue landing. During flare Captain noticed First Officer is scrambling to figure out Tower freq and make a quick call for landing clearance. Attitude and lack of concentration by First Officer; this is a seasoned First Officer. He flies small planes and has been with several major airlines; however; he is prone to mistakes while he discusses his extensive experience. All I know is that after 30 years flying with this carrier I have; for the first time; added two First Officer's to my no fly with list. This First Officer does not possess incompetence nor 'industry issue attitude;' he just looses track of the issues at hand and his New England stubbornness does not recognize a problem.
An A321 Captain noted that his experienced but First Officer failed to get landing clearance even after he strongly affirmed that he had when questioned about the clearance on final.