A319
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Aircraft; Human Factors
Approach cleared us for the visual approach to Runway XXL. The clearance was; 'Proceed direct [Final Approach Fix]'; cleared for the visual Runway XXL.' We inserted 'Direct [FAF]' into the box and verified NAV. Autopilot-1 and 'APPR' modes were selected to intercept the LOC and GS at [FAF]. We were at 7;000 FT; the GS intercept altitude for [FAF]. We were approximately 3-4 miles outside of [FAF] and east of centerline for XXL. As we proceeded; still in NAV mode; the airplane remained slightly left (east) of an actual direct path to [FAF]. Both pilots were watching outside the aircraft. We were still tracking towards XXL; but unknowingly not tracking to [FAF] anymore. Tower asked us to verify we were landing XXL. We acknowledged that we were. It was at this point we saw we were going to intercept the XXL centerline inside of [FAF] and not at [FAF]. We saw that the aircraft was still in NAV mode; yet the aircraft was clearly about a mile or so east of the course that would've taken us to [FAF]. The autopilot was disengaged and we landed with no incident on XXL. The only abnormality to this was that the aircraft wasn't doing what the box was saying it was doing. And we intercepted the LOC inside of [FAF] instead of at [FAF] as we were told to do by ATC.Suggest better monitoring of the automation.
We as a crew assumed the automation was doing what it was suppose to be doing. We looked as if we were tracking to the airport; not fully aware we were tracking inside [the FAF]; not to [the FAF]. Being that we were cleared direct [FAF] 15 miles away and the aircraft was confirmed to do this; we did not think the track was drifting off course. I have never seen this happen; but I will be more aware even in visual conditions.
A319 flight crew; cleared to proceed direct to the Final Approach Fix for a visual approach; entered the fix into the FMS; but failed to notice that the aircraft was tracking left of course until advised by the Local Controller.