B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 149
Distraction; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
We were being vectored to final for Runway 10 in ATL. There was a lot of traffic and ATC pointed out the traffic we were to follow and asked us to report him in sight. We were never cleared to join final. As I was looking for the traffic; the First Officer stated that we needed to join final. I told him to query the Controller but there was too much radio congestion. Instead of risking creating conflicts with other traffic on other runways; we decided to join final without a specific clearance. The Approach Controller then issued a Visual Approach to 10. The Tower Controller asked us to slow down in that we had an overtake speed with reference to the preceding traffic. There were no further incidents. I do not believe there ever was a separation issue.When asked to find preceding traffic; I lost SA (Situational Awareness) as I tried to find the traffic. I am thankful for the First Officer who made me aware of the fact that we needed to join final. In the future; I will insure not to fixate on one specific task.
While being vectored for the Localizer to Runway 10 we were assigned a heading and altitude. As we began to fly through the Localizer I realized we weren't cleared to join. I knew this was a mistake and urged the Captain to join anyway. He began to join. While in the turn I queried ATC; who confirmed 'join the Localizer.' Had I not said something we would have continued on our heading and very likely created a conflict on one of the parallel runways. We did not do that; and we continued to a safe landing. I am not sure if ATC missed the call to join or we never heard it. Either way there was some confusion.
B737 Flight Crew reported being vectored for a visual approach to Runway 10 at ATL but never cleared for the approach. Upon localizer intercept the crew initiated a turn on their own as the clearance could not quickly be confirmed.