Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Chart Or Publication; Procedure
During the transition from the SADDE SIX STAR to the ILS 24R approach; at LAX; we began a turn at SAPPI as depicted on the approach plate.  However; it was ATC's intention to keep us on a 068 heading as described in the STAR.  These are two contradictory depictions of what is expected when transitioning from the STAR to the Approach.  With the weather and my task saturation at the time as the non pilot flying; I do not recall if we were issued the 068 Radial to track or heading to fly after SMO; but monitoring what was depicted on the PFD Map and the approach plate seemed to match up with a turn at SAPPI.  After landing; the First Officer (FO) and I; talked with SCT ATC.  They told us that this deviation had been happening a lot lately and were wondering; firstly; why it was happening and; secondly; how they could fix it.  We had a lengthy conversation over the phone in much greater detail than this report; but this is the basic reason why it happened to us: When loading the flight plan into the FMGC there is no discontinuity created between the STAR and the Approach (they connect together at SAPPI).  I have never seen this before.  A STAR that ends with a heading or vector will depict that heading or vector into infinity; and there will be a discontinuity created in the flight plan.  During our briefing of the arrival and approach we noted that we were to expect a heading after SMO-068R 9DME but we were confused about why the ILS 24R showed us staying on the 068R until SAPPI and then turning to the approach; but the flight plan in the FMGC seemed to verify that this was how it should be done.  The fact that both the FMC and the Approach plates showed this turn at SAPPI caused confusion on our part.  Both our inexperience with the STAR/APCH at LAX and our high work load/task saturation at the time contributed to us not questioning ATC and verifying both what we were seeing on the plates/FMGC and their instructions.We were told that ATC is working to change the approach plates; but that this process could take some time; and that their controllers are making an effort to clarify approach instructions.  It is my hope that in the mean time we could add a note of caution to the airport briefing page.
Pilot stated he and Captain had never flown into LAX and they were both caught off guard when the aircraft turned base leg. Less than halfway through the turn to 150; ATC contacted the aircraft and turned back to downwind. Pilot stated he had never seen a STAR and approach that went all the way to the ground like this did. Pilot stated that he wasn't sure how many times the turn off the downwind had happened but he said FAA at SCT had noticed it increasing and at the same point.
Pilot reports of flying into LAX on the SADDE6 arrival and at the SAPPI intersection the aircraft turns to join the Runway 24R final. Pilot does not recall being issued a heading to fly after SMO. Pilot called SCT after landing and had discussion with Operations manager who stated this had been happening a lot lately and were wondering why it was happening and how they could fix it.