737 App/GS problem

[Zach]

DF 737 with autopilot and App activated, captures the localizer...but when the GS intercepts the glidesope, my 737 goes into a 2500 rate of decent from which is almost never recovers.

I am flying sober...what is wrong?

Zach

[AirbusAces]

lol

[747Forever]

Not sure that'll fix it, worth a try though ;-)

Jeff.

EGNX

[ztheged]

The problem is your speed.
Observe that when you capture the localizer your speed is around 140-150 kts IAS. Usually thats ok as you make a 12 mile final and intercept the G/S at around 3000 feet so u can still slow down more if you have to.
True that when you intercept the G/S the plane will start to descend very steeply.. but its nothing fatal; in fact after having done over 20 CATIII full autolands with the AP in the past few days I am quite used to it. What you have to do is observe that you are around 140 kts when u intercept. Now when the plane starts to pitch down, you gotta add a bit of power. I usually handle the throttles myself during the landing configuration, so you might wanna try that. Its much more smooth on the flare too. What you gotta do it let it gain some speed. You will see that the VS never goes delow -1000. And very soon it will level off (make sure you keep a speed while it starts to level off or it wont be albe to). When you are holding a stable speed it will again cross the G/S and this time capture it without any very steep descent. After thats its childsplay to get the plane down with one hand comfortably on the yoke and the other handling the flare with the thorttles :)

[fmcdude]

!

[DarkArts]

Around the Intecept point you should be at 170-180... And you should approach to the intercept point when you're ALT is Hold, and when it will capture the GS it will automatic turn of ALT hold.

[Rossco]

Hi Zach,
I also had this problem & regardless of what speed or location I intercepted the G/S I would still have the problem. Fuel also was taken into consideration so I made sure I had reduced it enough to ensure the aircraft was within landing weight limits.
The way I have cured this (& I posted this previously which no one seems to have picked up on) is by adjusting the "Alt Acq Mode" setting in the FMC to hard. The way you do this is by opening the FMC, righ mouse clicking on it & select "Settings" then select hard. The default is medium however since changing this I have not missed an intercept & the diving has disappeared.
Hope this is of some help.

Rossco

[ztheged]

Well thats only a darn lucky situation... I've been flying with the HARD setting since day 1..
As for speed, you are right: its not the problem. Its just something that you have to be careful with when intercepting G/S. My last 20 approaches over the past few days brought no improvement in the interceptiob of the G/S - sadly.
I havent tried the fs2002 realism setting some people suggest lower to medium, but its worth a try.
Cheers

[Muppet22]

I've heard that it is an FS2002 based problem and is not the doing of the DF team - it works fine in FS2000! If and when MS release a patch fingers crossed it'll be fixed.

Tom