B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 20000; Flight Crew Type 11000
Confusion; Distraction; Fatigue
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Airport; Procedure
[We] arrived in ORD terminal area. [We] briefed ILS 27L and ILS28; with emphasis on 27L due to North arrival; ILS 27L in the box. [We got a] short notice hold at KRENA due to runway closure. [We] came out of hold direct to ORD and given visual 28. I briefed the highlights for 28 (flap setting; turn off; target speed; etc.). ILS Runway 27L remained in the box and none of the other three pilots caught the oversight. We then received a descending series of left turn vectors from Approach Control who eventually asked if we had the runway in sight? Turning into the sun with visibility reduced by haze; I could not see the airport but the First officer reported the runway in sight. I armed the localizer and assumed we would intercept the final course. Four things happened in very rapid succession. 1. Runway 28 came into view with suitable forward visibility. 2. I stated; 'Why didn't the localizer capture?' 3. The Tower Controller asked us to check our runway. 4. We received a TCAS RA with an aircraft on final to 27L. I immediately turned off autopilot; continued left turn and with minor adjustments; rolled out on 28 final. After landing I spoke to ATC who advised 'no harm no foul' and thanked me for the call.I had not received my usual amount of rest prior to this flight; nor was I able to get any sleep during my rest break during the flight. I thought I was fine; but in hindsight I was fatigued; due to lack of sleep. In my opinion; fatigue was the main cause of this event. My normal SOP adherence did not occur due to a lack of mental sharpness.
...approach asked if [we had the] runway in sight. Crew said yes. We were cleared visual approach. Captain waited for localizer capture to help verify runway.
Distracted by unanticipated holding and suffering from duty time related fatigue the flight crew of a very long range B777 failed to reset their FMS/ILS for their reassigned runway and flew through its extended centerline at ORD. An alert from ATC and a TCAS RA with respect to an aircraft on final to an adjacent parallel runway prevented more serious repercussions.