B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 182
Workload; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Procedure; Human Factors
At 9000 ft on a vector north to land Runway 16L. RNAV Z to 16L was advertised on ATIS and was briefed and loaded in FMC. About 15-20 miles from airport Approach Control asked if we had the field in sight; we did not and replied 'No'. Minutes later they gave us a turn to intercept the localizer final to 16L. We commenced the turn to the heading but the clearance was given way too late and we were already passing the localizer course; and we had the RNAV Z programmed in the FMC; so we had to get the frequency and course for the localizer quickly input. Saw the field and told Approach we now had the field. They cleared us [for] the visual and asked if we had the runway; we stated we did but had to correct back to course. We were still a long way out and no traffic issues or concerns but went past the localizer course due to the last minute vector. Approach was obviously expecting us to pick it up visually but we didn't see the field initially. Flew normal visual final approach and landed without issue.
B737NG Captain reported a track deviation occurred when ATC issued a late clearance to intercept the DEN 16L localizer.