B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Workload; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
After given a heading and descent from LGA; last fix on the arrival; NY approach advised us 'ILS 4R;' providing our expected landing runway. Given further descent to 3000 feet; speed 180 knots; and vectors to the approach; handoff to arrival control. Overtasked controller provided us vectors to dogleg; then stated 'cleared ILS 4 left.' This took us by surprise; given our previous runway assignment. When I asked to clarify runway assignment; controller entered conversation with an [another aircraft] flight; trying to ascertain runway desired -- obviously confusion as to which aircraft was clarifying runway. The congested frequency prohibited our clarification; so we went with our last clearance; to fly ILS 4L; and we were handed off to tower. We were immediately high on profile for that runway. Pilot Flying (PF) disconnected autopilot and began configuring; while I inserted new approach and called tower. Tower advised an aircraft departing prior to our arrival. The late approach change; high altitude; and initial confusion caused a scramble to get fully configured and stable by 500 feet. At that altitude we were still 20 knots fast; but I decided to continue; due to departing aircraft potentially becoming a traffic conflict on go around. We slowed and were stable on short final; rest of leg uneventful.Overtaxed arrival controller confusing call; signs and assigning runway change late; on dogleg above vertical profile. In the future; I will clarify runway assignment upon handoff from approach to arrival controllers. Will demand lower altitude if above vertical profile.
A B767 Captain reported receiving a late runway change for the ILS on a parallel runway. The Captain was unstable on approach; but elected to continue landing due to the potential conflict with a departing aircraft if they would have gone around.