B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 118; Flight Crew Type 1740
Communication Breakdown; Human-Machine Interface; Time Pressure; Workload
No Specific Anomaly Occurred All Types
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Procedure
While accomplishing the RIIVR2 arrival to LAX we were given the ILS RWY 25L. Approximately 5 miles prior to the RIIVR fix (common to both RWY 25L and 24R) we were told to utilize RWY 24R.Approach Control had us fly a speed higher than recommended by the FMS and they started our descent on the arrival later than optimum. When the change to runway 24R was given to us; we had little time to enter it into the FMS; reduce our speed and return to a normal vertical profile. We were able to safely accomplish everything to get the aircraft in a position to land and meet the stabilized approach criteria but not without significant effort and much 'heads down' time close to the airport in a high traffic area. It is not uncommon to be kept high and fast and given last minute runway changes at LAX. I believe our combined flight experience and good CRM were critical to a safe outcome. Had there been marginal weather or an inexperienced crew; there is a high potential for task saturation close to the ground; at a very busy airport; with a different outcome.
A B737 flight crew landing at LAX was issued a late runway change. They were 'heads down' for significant amount of time in a highly congested traffic area but were able to comply with the instructions and land safely.