FS2002 ILS

[sutherlandjohn]

Can someone please explain how to use the ILS and how to make the autopilot steer my plane onto the proper course for the ILS runway? It's an IFR flight if that helps. Thanks.

[Coondogjr]

You need the ILS frequency for the runway you want to land on. Then you set that freq. into the Nav 1 radio. You then need to fly the pattern until you start to cross the ILS radial, then follow the beam in. If you want auto approach, then click on the autopilot apr button. This will bring the plane down to the runway. Experiment around with it and you will get good with it. Don't forget to fly manual approaches once in a while to stay current.

[av84fun]

A couple more tips. The indication of intercepting the localizer (the inbound course) is a centering of the middle portion of the yellow HSI arrow. You want to approach the localizer course at 30-35 degrees maximum. If your approach it at a greater angle, you will likely fly through it and the autopilot will CERTAINLY fly through it cause a series of S turns to get back on course.

In addition, for the approach mode of the AP to work properly, you must intercept the localizer from beneath the glideslope (the two arrow heads on either side of the HSI). If you intercept from above, the AP will likely never catch up with the glidespope.

Make sure that you have reduced to final approach speed well before glideslope intercept or you will gain too much speed on the descent.

Unless you are flying certain big iron types, the AP does NOT land the plane for you.
Have fun

[Yarddart152]

The autopilot will not land the airplane though. So remember to turn it off at about 200ft AGL otherwise u will do a yarddart into the ground. Here is a good introduction to the ILS approach system and how it works and all that stuff. http://www.computerpilot.com/files/iils.pdf

[Simon Evans]

Wow! All that advice AND the tutorials and manuals in FS2002 too..! How could you fail...


Simon Evans

[jeffhunter]

saucer of milk here, please.

[RobPreston]

John, All this seems excellent advice - to which I would add just one or two small points. I have found that FS2002 ATC vectors me to intercept the ILS beam at betwen 25 and 30 degrees and at around 8 miles out from the airport. If I were flying without ATC, I would tend to aim for interception a bit further out (say 10-12 miles), but certainly not less than the ATC target - as the aircraft needs time to stabilise on the beam before touch-down. I always keep the autopilot engaged right up to the moment tof touch-down. All the professional simmers tell me that I shouldn't do this, and I am sure they are right. But it seems to work for me. I find that, if I turn off the AP at any distance from touch-down, the aircraft begins to wander from the glide slope. I hope these thoughts help.

Rob Preston

[mdklatt]

>I find that, if I
>turn off the AP at
>any distance from touch-down, the
>aircraft begins to wander from
>the glide slope.

You're not blaming this on the plane are you?

[KenG01]

Heheheh :-lol

-----
Ken G:-wave

[jeffhunter]

Pilot-induced turbulence

Jeff