I wanna just share a weird “trick” i found that makes approach mode easier. Make it in your flight plan so that the closest waypoint to the approach (red triangle lookin thing) is about 3200-3250 feet above the airport’s altitude. This will assure you hit the glideslope really early and just glide into the runway hands-free.
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I wouldn’t consider that “weird” since that’s exactly where the glideslope is.
I don’t think there is a benefit in catching the glideslope early, most times it’s just going to yank your plane up and down aggressively. The thing I’d recommend is coming to the glideslope while level at usually around 3000ft above the airport.
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Right, and the smartest thing I’ve found is to approach the G/S at a 30 degree angle and then hold a 20 degree bank when activating APPR Mode. Also make sure your VS is 0, then it won’t yank you around as much. Alternatively, just set the ILS and then go to HUD mode and manually take the plane in. Much more satisfying and a lot smoother, and it also leads to much smoother touchdowns
Thank you for your post on an all too important topic, given many pilots have trouble:
- Intercepting an ILS localizer, and
- Catching the ILS glideslope
when selecting APPR (approach mode).
However, this is not a hack - as @aatogamer points out, this is where the glideslope is located.
Best Practices - APPR mode
Using approach mode to complete an ILS landing requires a few steps.
1) Select NAV1 for the correct arrival runway.
- Select Airport - you will see INFO WX RWYS PROC menu.
- Select RWYS
- Select Arrival Runway and Set NAV1 (bottom right)
2) File an ILS Approach with your flight plan
- On the same menu, select PROC
- use Select Approach
- File an ILS approach specific to your runway. All ILS approach procedures begin with I. i.e. I27L or I28R.
The altitudes in the filed approach are below the glideslope - EGLL I27R Approach
Intercepting
An ILS approach involves a two-step process:
→ 1. Intercept localizer (LOC) (lateral guidance)
→ 2. Capture glideslope (GS) (vertical guidance)
3) Intercept the localizer – ideally at an angle of 30 degrees (or less if following a filed flight plan).
- As you near the outside of the red approach cone, select APPR mode.
- LOC will turn green on intercept
4) Capture the glideslope
- You must be at an attitude below the glideslope when you intercept the localizer in step 3.
- GS light will turn green
- Your approach button will show LOC GS in green
TIPS
I suggest entering the cone at 3,000 feet above airport elevation for a good intercept – 2,000 feet above airport elevation works as well.
When flying on expert server with approach control ATC online, please follow ATC instructions. IFATC radar controllers will issue you an ILS approach clearance including clearance altitude.
- Follow the approach clearance instructions and then select APPR.
It’s important you promptly follow the instruction as it’s received. This doesn’t mean dive to the clearance altitude as fast as possible, but don’t descend at 200 fpm either.
PILOTS KEPT ON FLIGHT PLAN
Descend and maintain 3000, maintain 3000 until established on the localizer, cleared ILS Runway 25L approach.
- Descend to 3000 feet
- Maintain 3,000 feet and select APPR
After the controller sees you are established, you will be handed over to tower.
PILOTS RECEIVING VECTORS
Turn left heading 280, descend and maintain 2000ft (or maintain xxxx), maintain 2000 until established on the localizer, cleared ILS Runway 25L approach.
- Turn to instructed heading (Turn left heading 280)
- Descend 2000 ft
- Maintain 2000 ft
Once on the 280 heading and at clearance altitude, select APPR.
USE FOR LOW VISIBILIY LANDINGS
ILS is vital for low visibility landings such as the one pictured below.
The green diamond on the altitude indicator is the glide slope in comparison with your elevation, this can be used to hand fly a landing.
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Thanks for this guide
Do you actually see if a pilot is locked on? As in LOC GS when turns green? Or is it just based visually on the radar screen that the plane is on the correct heading / alt?
The latter.
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