Setting up a flightplan

[hurst21uk]

Hi, this is a very n00bish question, but here goes.

I just set up a flightplan from Liverpool to Belfast. It was programmed into the GPS. I take off from Liverpool and head towards Belfast. Now, as I am approaching Belfast I can see that I heading toward the runway side on.

How would I find out how to get the autopilot to approached the runway directly?

I know it has something to do with heading but how to I program these co-ordinates into my GPS?

I have done a couple of tutorials and ATC asks me to turn so far east, so far west etc and It is then more or less lined up. But how do I work all this out for myself?

Any help greatly appreciated.

[yankeesji]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Are you running a flight using ATC?

Are you wanting to land via ILS or a visual?

Thanks,
Joe

[hurst21uk]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Are you running a flight using ATC?

Are you wanting to land via ILS or a visual?

Thanks,
Joe

Well, its visual at the moment. I have not yet tried to contact ATC for a landing. But like I say, I did so in the tutorials, well the co-pilot did:o

[yankeesji]

If you are doing an ILS landing, you'll need to set up your NAV1 radio which will line you up for the ILS landing. Visual...If you are using ATC from take off to landing, they will guide your course so you line up correctly with the way the runway in lined up. Also, if you look on your GPS, you can see the direction the runway is running.

Search youtube for ILS landing setup. It's very easy to do, just lengthy to type. I'm at work :)

[hurst21uk]

If you are doing an ILS landing, you'll need to set up your NAV1 radio which will line you up for the ILS landing. Visual...If you are using ATC from take off to landing, they will guide your course so you line up correctly with the way the runway in lined up. Also, if you look on your GPS, you can see the direction the runway is running.

Search youtube for ILS landing setup. It's very easy to do, just lengthy to type. I'm at work :)

Cheers, will have a go now.

[hurst21uk]

Still finding things hard!

I am trying a direct flight from Manchester to Liverpool to test this. When I enter the NAV1 freq, the plane does not seem to want to line up with the runway. Also, my heading is 262, but when I go to map and click on Airport it says the heading is 90, which confuses me!

I know you all say its simple, but im struggling right now, the ILS tutorials on youtube are not helping me at all.

[mqytn]

You can use the gps to have FS fly your plane to an ILS app. The

final steps are up to you to compleate. To have the Gps fly to an

ILS, the first step is to fly direct to an airport. This is done by the

direct button on the top right of the gps. Next, looking at the arrow

buttons on the unit, press the bottom left arrow, this will allow you

to type an airport code EGGP for example. Hit enter then enter

again to activate. Fly normally as you would but as you approach

the airport and you want to set up a landing hit the PROC and a

selection of approaches will appear if the airport has any. There are

2 options for EGGP. One is the ILS 27 approach. Select that app and

hit enter on the gps. the next selection should be activate. The

plane will automatically fly you to the ILS 27 app. Once you are

close to the app you have to tune in the ILS on NAV 1 and have the

correct course set for the ILS. You must switch over from flying on

gps to NAV to fly the ILS to a landing, usually 10-15 miles out. This

procedure bypasses the ATC, which I have never used, and to me

makes each flight easier by taking the work out of doing an

approach myself. Hope this helps.

[hurst21uk]

You can use the gps to have FS fly your plane to an ILS app. The

final steps are up to you to compleate. To have the Gps fly to an

ILS, the first step is to fly direct to an airport. This is done by the

direct button on the top right of the gps. Next, looking at the arrow

buttons on the unit, press the bottom left arrow, this will allow you

to type an airport code EGGP for example. Hit enter then enter

again to activate. Fly normally as you would but as you approach

the airport and you want to set up a landing hit the PROC and a

selection of approaches will appear if the airport has any. There are

2 options for EGGP. One is the ILS 27 approach. Select that app and

hit enter on the gps. the next selection should be activate. The

plane will automatically fly you to the ILS 27 app. Once you are

close to the app you have to tune in the ILS on NAV 1 and have the

correct course set for the ILS. You must switch over from flying on

gps to NAV to fly the ILS to a landing, usually 10-15 miles out. This

procedure bypasses the ATC, which I have never used, and to me

makes each flight easier by taking the work out of doing an

approach myself. Hope this helps.

Cheers for that, I'll give it a go tomorrow and let you know how I go!

[Tim_A]

You will find it helpful to look at the approach charts. These are the route maps of the sky, and tell the pilot how to fly the approach, what turns to make, what altitudes to be at, and so on.

The charts for the UK can be found at http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=6&Itemid=13.html

You can often set up FS to fly the approach automatically, as described by mqtyn, but you should be aware that the data in FS is old, and may not match exactly with the real chart. Also, the FS GPS does not contain altitude information, so you will have to manage that yourself.