This is a very much needed tutorial for pilots encountering instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

Knowledge of how to effectively transition IMC airspace and navigate to, capture and follow an ILS at an airport is highly important and one that X-Plane and MSFS pilots will find extremely useful.

While the following tutorial was created using X-Plane, pilots of MSFS will also benefit from it, as the procedures are almost identical.

The two airports mentioned in this tutorial are:

Dodge City Regional Airport

Dodge City Regional Airport is three miles east of Dodge City, in Ford County, Kansas. The airport is mainly used for general aviation and has two asphalt runways: 14/32 is 6,899 by 100 feet (2,103 x 30 m) and 2/20 is 4,649 by 100 feet (1,417 x 30 m).

Garden City Regional Airport

Garden City Regional Airport is nine miles southeast of Garden City, in Finney County, Kansas. It has two runways with concrete surfaces: 17/35 is 7,300 by 100 feet (2,225 x 30 m) and 12/30 is 5,700 by 100 feet (1,737 x 30 m).

NOTE:

1. CRS refers to Course. This is set on your HSI, or VOR instrument. The aircraft will intercept and fly the course you have dialed in when NAV mode is active on the autopilot.

a. The exception is an ILS. You need not dial in the ILS CRS because there is only one course per ILS. The instrument knows this. HOWEVER, it is always a good idea to select your CRS manually for situational awareness.

2. HDG refers to Heading. This is what is set on the directional gyro. The aircraft will fly this when HDG mode is active on the autopilot.

Setup: (use our autopilot for this flight).

WX: Wind 340/08.

Clouds and visibility are up to you. Suggest progressively lower as you gain experience.

Remember when you set cloud ceilings in X-Plane it is done in MSL (height above Mean Sea Level).

Therefore, to set cloud deck at 500' above the ground at KGCK you would set in 3584' in X-Plane.

Depart KDDC: RWY 32

NAV #1 - set to DDC VOR (108.2) with course set to 269° (V10).

NAV #2 - set to GCK VOR (113.3) with course set to 266° (V10) [reciprocal of 086 shown on chart].

Altitude - climb to 6000'. In a Bonanza this would normally be at 500 fpm but adjust for your selected aircraft.

After Departure

Fly heading 310° to join V10 Airway (DDC VOR 269).

When established on your 310 heading select the NAV function on the autopilot.

The AP (autopilot) will intercept and fly outbound on the course you have set on NAV #1, which is your HSI if your aircraft has one.

When level at 6000' adjust to cruise power.

Enroute

The airway between DDC and GCK is 34 nm. Therefore your Changeover Point (where you switch over to navigate off of the GCK VOR) is at 17 nm. Watch your DME.

Tune your ADF to the LOM (Locator Outer Marker) for the approach to GCK, PIEVE NDB (347).

At 17 DME from DDC, switch to GCK VOR for primary nav (113.3). Remember your inbound to GCK has changed slightly to 266°. Change the course selector on your HSI to 266.

While you have time during the enroute phase study the Approach Chart.

Make sure you either have your radios set up in standby for the approach, or know what is needed and are ready to select them.

Approach

When DME from GCK is 1.5 nm east (before you pass the VOR), turn left to HDG 169°.

Do the above for an airplane with a DME receiver. If you do not have DME, then wait for the airplane to pass the GCK VOR. This is indicated by the "TO/FROM" flag switching to FROM.

Then

Proceed direct to PIEVE (347) - put the ADF needle off the nose of the aircraft and fly to the beacon. Approximate heading of 169.

Start descent to 4700'. The altitude depicted on the ILS approach chart where it shows: 4700 to LOM / 169 (5.4). This info is just to the southeast of the GCK VOR symbol (top green arrow).

Maintaining 4700' until glide slope intercept... inbound on the ILS approach.

Tune the GCK ILS into NAV #1 (109.9) to receive it on your HSI.

Set Course on the HSI to 352 (inbound for the ILS approach).

Put GCK VOR into NAV #2 for a DME reference (this ILS has no DME).

When passing the PIEVE LOM (needle swing)

The Procedure Turn: A maneuver to establish yourself inbound on the ILS approach course (lower green arrow).

Turn left to HDG 127 (shown on the approach chart).

When established on the 127 HDG, start taking time.

At 45-60 seconds after rollout on 127, turn right to HDG 307.

After established on HDG 307 reduce engine power to achieve about 120 kts indicated airspeed (speed is dependent on aircraft flown).

Select APP function on AP, with course set to 352 (HSI). The AP will turn inbound and maintain 352 CRS. This is the inbound course for the ILS 35 approach.

In APP mode the AP will now intercept the Localizer and the glide slope (passing the GS intercept point - just past PIEVE LOM, and fly the approach for you).

At glide slope intercept, lower the landing gear (know the gear extension speed of your aircraft).

Maintain an IAS (airspeed) appropriate for your chosen aircraft.

Start reducing to flap extension speed.

At 1000' above the runway (3900' for KGCK) lower flaps to stage one.

When you have a visual on the runway environment, or runway lights, lower remaining flaps and take over visually. Disconnect the AP, and LAND.

Welcome to Garden City, Kansas.

This tutorial was brought to you by: Jetjerry & Ottopilot.

Epoch Alaska Air

http://www.unex-planedapps.com

Optional Scenery Enhancements

X-Plane 10 Scenery:

KGCK Garden City Regional Airport

kgck_garden_city.zip

FSX Scenery:

KGCK Garden City Regional Airport

fsx_kgck_afcd_garden_city_ks.zip

FTX Global NA Airport Pack

https://orbxdirect.com/product/ftx-global-na-pack