Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors
The Captain was the PF and I was the PM. During the arrival to EGLL we were told to expect holding at OCK for approximately 8 minutes. At approximately 10 miles from OCK; we were told no holding would be required and to depart OCK on a heading of 360 degrees. Runways in use were 27L/R. We expected 27R and that is what we had in the FMC and had briefed. We then overflew the airport and were given a right turn to downwind and a descent clearance to 4;000 feet with 28 miles to fly. We started down at 600 fpm. We then were given right turns to intercept the localizer and descend on the glide path. We were never given a runway and we did not query the controllers as to what runway we were to use. We intercepted the localizer and were on the glidepath for 27R at about 12 DME when the controller asked us to confirm Runway 27L. We said we will join 27L and made a turn left. I quickly reprogrammed the FMC and recycled the flight directors while the Captain manually flew the airplane visually to join the final for 27L. The remainder of the approach and landing was uneventful.The controllers failed to assign us a runway and we failed to query them. Never assume what runway you will land on at EGLL. And; perhaps we should not load an approach until we are instructed on what runway we can expect.
B777 First Officer reported they were not assigned a runway by ATC; but were told to intercept the localizer. They did not query the Controller; nor each other; and lined up on the wrong runway.