ILS Landing Troubles

**hogie1** · 07-04-2012, 11:59 PM

I am having trouble performing a successful ILS landing. I let ATC tell me i am clear to land runway XX and expect the vectors for an ILS approach and at that time I switch AP to nav and hit the app switch. The problems i am having is that a lot of times the plane will try to line up, but will end up swaying back and forth trying to get in the center and I end up running off the runway. Or, when the plane actually does line up, sometimes it will land short of the runway. Any ideas how to fix these problems or what I may be doing wrong?
Thanks!

**PPSFA** · 07-05-2012, 12:17 AM

Read this... http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/ils.htm

**mozartluvr** · 07-05-2012, 12:33 AM

At what altitude are you turning off the ILS and taking manual control?

**hogie1** · 07-05-2012, 12:39 AM

probably at about 500 ft. or right before i need to flare. its hard to determine when i should because like i said the airplane is swerving a lot of times trying to line up or coming in too shallow so i try to let it fix yourself, if you will. does it come in too shallow because im not going fast enough?

**FraisLive** · 07-05-2012, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by hogie1

probably at about 500 ft. or right before i need to flare. its hard to determine when i should because like i said the airplane is swerving a lot of times trying to line up or coming in too shallow so i try to let it fix yourself, if you will. does it come in too shallow because im not going fast enough?

Ok, first off, you try to intercept the Glide Slope around 2,500-3,000 feet and about 10-15 km out from the runway. If you try to intercept the GS to late the aircraft will respond weird. It's trying to line up and get to the correct altitude...and when you are out 5-10 km from the airport at 500ft, the aircraft will not respond correctly. You are doing everything correctly except flying at the correct altitude. Also, don't flare To far out. When you "flare" it should be when your 15-20 feet above the runway.

Hope I helped-Tyler

**torkermax** · 07-05-2012, 11:06 AM

Just to clarify, it was stated 1800 to 4000ft is optimum. AGL or MSL? If the airport/runway is 5200ft MSL, that would be very ugly! Should state intercept 3000ft above runway/airport altitude. So if the airport is 5200ft MSL. Intercept ILS @ 8200 ft 10mi to 12 mi will generally always put you below the GS for intercept.. Umm sound like KDEN

Altimeter setting is also very important when approaching the ILS. Thats why tower always gives altitmeter setting prior to landing clearance.

Finally: Practice,practice,practice.

**jgspangler** · 07-05-2012, 08:12 PM

I noted the comments about airspeed on the ILS. ATC frequently slows you down well below 200kts for traffic separation, so airspeed at the outer marker ( usually at about glide slope intercept ) is sometimes as low as 140 kts in many turbine aircraft. I have 2 buddies who fly L-1011, B707,727,737, DC-10. They note A.S about 180 at localizer intercept if unrestricted and then let the aircraft slow to 140-145 kts at the fence. They flare at 30 feet radar alt. call, and only 3 degrees or so. This is not well supportd in FS which does not seem to give you that little extra ummph of ground effect to cushion the touchdown. Any real world turbine pilots on this forum with a comment?
BTW, viewing FS videos I note that many simmers don't really rotate the AC at takeoff but just let it fly off. Never happens in the real world. Same with landing - too fast for a nice smooth flare to land with a kiss instead of a bounce.

**maddog80** · 07-05-2012, 12:43 AM

Are you using an "autoland" function attached to the autopilot? My MD-80 has this function. If there is a crosswind it doesn't work well. good on foggy approaches to SFO or SAN though.

**hogie1** · 07-05-2012, 12:51 AM

im just using the boeing 737-800 and theres not an autoland as far as i know, but i just use the approach hold button on the autopilot. I've only had FSX about a month or so, but I've done all the flight school stuff and have read some of the learning modules so i understand stuff like VOR and ILS and glidescope, and can fly them manually, I just wanted to try it using the autopilot to line me up. Ive watched a lot of videos on youtube showing how to do it, but for some reason sometimes my plane has trouble lining up. It may be due to a crosswind, I will have to look into that!

**747rocks** · 07-05-2012, 01:20 AM

Alright

1. When you're about 30nm away from the airport input the Radio ILS Frequency of the runway you're landing at by looking at the MAP, Using the fsx menu dropdown.

2. Input the info into your Radiostack, NAV 1 Section and turn on NAV 1, Mkr and DME at the bottom.

3. Make sure you've swtiched from GPS TO NAV by now.

4. As you're about below 18nm away from the runway which is at this point completely visible to you and you're conifdent that it is the correct runway you press the APP switch. Make sure you're below 4000 FT at this point 1800-3500 feet is optimum for landing, dont go higher or lower than that of the altitiude.

5. Keep APP on, it'll line you up with the runway and perhaps when you're about 7-12 nms away from the runway you're capture the glidescope which will then help you descend automatically.

6. When you're about 200 feet of the ground disconnect the autopilot, and the autothrottle if you're using it.

7. Control the aircraft and bring it to the ground.

Hope it helped.