Approach where no ILS is available

[Ant1981]

When approaching an airfield with no ILS, what NAV Aid can I use to get me there?

[meltsner]

Using the ADF (assuming there's an NDB). Our local airport has only one NDB as its only nav. aid, no other way to find it without it.

[Michael E.]

You can plot a course from the nearest nav-aid to the airport. It won't give you an approach, but it will get you there.

[Ant1981]

There's one particluar airfield I want with no ILS on one heading. So if I plot a course from a VOR, I take it I'm stuffed if the visibilty is low.

[Michael E.]

Pretty much. It's VFR only with no approach & landing capability.

[Ant1981]

I'll wait for the wind to blow the other way, that way I'll get to use the ILS.

[tigisfat]

ILS approaches are the most common and arguably most precise precision approach, but you have many other options in MSFS if the airfield doesn't have ILS.

Use the procedures page on the default GPS to select and activate many instrument approaches at fields with and without ILSs. The GPS can even guide you to ILS approaches.

Once in the procedures page, you can select NDB, VOR, and yes, GPS approaches. You can select GPS on the nav/gps selector and then engage NAV hold to have the aircraft fly every one of the approaches, but beware that approaches using the GPS have no vertical guidance, only lateral, which is why you engage NAV hold and not APP hold.

[Ant1981]

Thanks for the information. I'll use it where I can in the more modern aircraft that I assume may come with GPS. I'm using GPS as guidance at the moment as I beleive the older aircraft didn't have it.

[NikeHerk67]

I'll wait for the wind to blow the other way, that way I'll get to use the ILS.

Ant1981

There are no set procedures, expecially in the flight simulator. I the real world, perhaps during an emergency, a pilot could be forced to fly that back course for instance.

You can use the autopilot BC (back course) Mode to land on the opposite RW. The localizer will work the same and hold the aircraft on course. The glide slope won't be available, but with careful planning of the rate of descent to the RW elevation can be accomplished with amazing accuracy after some practice. If the ILS has a DME the distance to touch down is known and be quite easy. Just fly a normal approach configuration with flaps and gear down and maintain the same speed and rate of descent as you would when following the glide slope.

Using every resource available is what makes a good pilot and navigator. That goes for everything from using VOR, NDB, ILS and does include back course capibilities. They won't have put it in the aircraft if you didn't need to use it once in awhile.

After you get proficient using the modern day NAVAIDs, perhaps you might take an interest in learning how they did it 40, 60, 80 or 100 years ago. There's so much you can learn and so many different interests it still amazes me after many years of flying the flight simulator.
Without FS no modern day pilot learns to navigate and fly using a sextant or Radio Rangeing, or perhaps a single or two ADF' to plot your exact location.

As was said above, it all depends on what you want to do. It's best to learn the modern ATC and flight planning procedures, however the better you get, the better you'll want to become. This hobby is an on going learning process if you want it to be.

By all means learn to satisfy your curiosity now, those other interests can come in time....... OR NOT.

Hope this helps

[skylab]

I'll wait for the wind to blow the other way, that way I'll get to use the ILS.

An option that is not only available to you in the sim, but in the real world as well, is the Circling Approach. Normally, you need a 600-foot ceiling and a mile-and-a-half vis to make one of these, but these were very common many years ago before all the fancy stuff available at most airports today. Give it a try. It improves your flying skills as well.