B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 189; Flight Crew Type 4500
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface; Time Pressure; Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
We were cleared for ENDEE 1 RNAV Arrival into MDW; and told by ATC to expect RNAV Y RWY 22L via STERE transition. We loaded RNAV Y Approach with STERE transition into FMC. Approximately 15 miles from MIING (on the ENDEE 1 Arrival); with MIING the next waypoint we were navigating to; ATC cleared us for the RNAV Y Approach via MIING. With MIING at the top of the Legs page; FMC would not accept direct MIING for the MIING transition for the RNAV Y. Tried going into heading mode and reattempted; FMC still would not accept MIING at top of Legs page. Entered FENCK (next waypoint after MIING on RNAV Y 22L) and the FMC accepted it; but ground track was not the prescribed ground track from the MIING transition depicted on RNAV Y; and was instead a calculated ground track. Also; speeds and altitudes were omitted. With the aircraft already enroute to MIING on the arrival; FMC would not accept RNAV Y 22L approach via MIING at that point and we told ATC we were unable. By the time ATC responded we were slightly off the expected track for the MIING transition and faster than the 210 prescribed at MIING (via the transition; not the arrival). I informed ATC we had the airport and we were cleared for the visual approach and proceeded to fly an uneventful circling visual approach and landing.My concern is this: we correctly programmed the FMC with the ENDEE 1 RNAV Arrival and transition to the RNAV (RNP) Y 22L approach we were told to expect; over STERE. With MIING the next point on the arrival (and at the top of the legs page); we could find no way to correctly reprogram the MIING transition when ATC cleared us for it so close to MIING.FMC programming and ATC procedures for the ENDEE 1 to the RNAV Y 22L need to be analyzed to prevent this from occurring in IMC conditions; where a quick change to a visual approach could not be done.
A B737NG flight crew cleared via the ENDEE RNAV STAR; expect the RNAV Y approach to Runway 22L at MDW via fix STERE was unable to successfully program the procedure and; instead; requested; received and conducted a circling visual approach to 22L.