ILS 747 400

[tnralamo]

I am a novice on the 747. How does the ILS display work - I am having trouble finding a display similar to the normal ILS screen on most aircraft.

Any suggestions welcome.

[FalconAF]

Suggestion Number 1: Read the information in the FS9 Learning Center about the 747 instrumentation (it's in the B737 section on how to fly the B737).

Suggestion Number 2: Advanced aircraft like the 747 don't use the "normal ILS screen" you referenced above (I'm assuming you mean the crossed needle type you see in a Cessna 172). They use a scrolling diamond symbol (or something similar) on the side and bottom of the instrument display. To learn how these work, go back to Suggestion Number 1 above.

[Sorrybouthemess]

The ILS may look different, but the needles still mean the same basic thing. There's a vertical needle that moves to the left and right. If it moves left of the center, you need to turn to the left to line up with the runway centerline and vice versa. There's also a diamond shaped indicator to the right of the vertical needle. If it is below the center mark, you are too high and vice versa. This is true whether you set ND to Full or Exp. I have no clue what those stand for, but the switch is right above the heading indicator and ILS status instrument on the default 747 panel.
One significant difference between the 747 ILS and the Cessna's is that the 747 course number, which can be changed and seen to the left of the autopilot controls, determines the orientation of the vertical needle. For the vertical needle to be easily readible, set the course number to the runway heading, or at least close to the runway heading. Otherwise, the vertical needle will seem reversed.

[ronzie]

You set the A/P course or OBI course knob to the setting indicated on an approach plate, not the runway designator which because of the abbreviation in runway IDs (mag heading/10 rounded) does not include the degree units. In other words runway 20 could indicate 200 to 209 degrees I believe. It is best to use the localizer bearing on the approach plates or from other sources insuring megnetic deviation is included.

You do not set the course to a "convenient" setting just to make it easily seen especially for an approach. When tuned to a localizer frequency the indicator deviation also is much more sensitive as when using a VOR.

As a backup for the hnav portion only, if not needed to determine waypoint intersections on the final approach course, I set VOR 2 (NAV2) to the localizer frequency so the RMI VOR indicator (rotating needle) points to it for situational awareness. This can tell you the direction of the localizer even if the the VOR 1 indicators are at end of range and can give you confidence that you are traveling at the correct heading for a merge.

[Sorrybouthemess]

Well I understood most of what you said, except this:
>When tuned to a localizer frequency the indicator deviation also is
>much more sensitive as when using a VOR.
One correction: runway 20 means can be from heading 196 to 205.

[panda234]

When you're homing in on a vor, a small movement either side of the radial might not affect the indicator. The ILS is much more sensitve, in that a small deviation will be indicated. And as you get closer, it get's more sensitive.

[tnralamo]

Excuse my ignorance - new to FS but where do you find the runway information ie the approach plate? In very od FS versions you could find it all from the map supplied - I have yet to find this in FS2004.

Thnaks

[rservice]

If you bring up map view on the drop down menu and zoom in on the desired runway, then click on the runway, it should give you all the relevant frequencies. Some agencies supply free plates, but what I use is FS navigator. I believe there is also some way of using the GPS to find them, but I don't use the GPS much. There is also info in the learning centre on how to use all the features on FS9.
Ron

[ronzie]

For the US real plates are here:

http://www.naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/d_tpp

Just click on Terminal Procedures, enter your search information on the next form, choose the appropriate plate by clicking on the PDF symbol of your choice, and the plate will download to be opened up in Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can then save or print it.