When should I turn base?

#1

When should I turn base? On the start of the ILS Cone?
Somewhere else?

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#2

Im probably not qualified to answer but in opinion when ever you feel comfortably you can make the turn and have a stable approach given that there is spacing betwene you and other traffic unless theres atc and they instruct you otherwise if im wrong im sure some nice person will correct me and give you the correct answer hope this helps😀

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#3

Thanks for replying!

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#4

If you’re using ILS, it’ll be once the glide slope indicator starts coming up (more level with the actual glide slope). That should result in being fairly (if not almost perfectly) aligned with the glide path. Intercept the localizer with a 30 degree or so angle.

If you’re landing visually, you’ll kinda have to judge it. If you want, you could go to the outside view and look for the PAPI lights. Once those show on glide path (one red, one white), you can turn base.

I hope this helps. I wish I had a screenshot to show you, but if you have any more questions, just let me know! If you can wait about twelve to fifteen hours, I can grab a screenshot for you.

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#5

Not a problem always happy to try help

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#6

You should be intercepting below the glide-slope so the diamond should come down.

30 degrees or less*

One of the best ways to shoot a visual approach is to back yourself up with a precision(you get a glidepath which makes it easier) or a non-precision approach following the altitudes along the approach. Safer(and more realistic) than judging it using an external view.

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#7

That’s what I meant. By the time you finish turning, you’re a little below the glide slope.

That’s also what I meant, but I didn’t put it exactly that way. My bad (ish).

I realize that, but I kinda gave the basic explanation :)

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#8

Diamond going up implies you are intercepting above the glidelsope. you shouldn’t be descending along the glidelsope as you are intercepting, but underneath it(with some terrain or airspace exceptions)

That’s how incidents occur. Landing at the wrong airport or misjudging the approach and having to go missed.

#9

Calm down, not a big deal.

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#10

(Off topic) You guys are just saying the same things over and over again. Please don’t flag this :)

#11

Umm… no? I’ve tested it. You’re supposed to move toward the arrow. Same with the turn coordinator in the 172. Hence the saying, “Step on the ball”

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#12

?

Okay?..

Just trying to help. If you don’t have something helpful, just leave it to yourself 🤷‍♂️

#13

Another way is to use the circles around the airport when you aren’t flying ILS. They are marked so you can fly a normal approach path. At class bravo airports the rings are placed at 3,8 and 12 nm out. So keeping the approach degree in mind you can now know, that at 12nm you need to be at 3600ft, at 8 at 2400ft and at 3nm at 900ft. At smaller airport (Charlie,Delta,Echo…) you only have two range rings. The one closer to the airport is 3nm out so you also need to be at around 900ft at this point. The other one is at 6nm so you need to be at 1800ft there. So you can measure when you have to turn on your minimal too since the circles are shown there. Keeping in mind that a pattern in an airliner is flown at 1500ft AGL, you should turn in them middle of the first and second circle at bigger airports.

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#14

Consider 1000 ft per 3 Nm.
You have to be stable at 1000 ft (gear down, flaps, Vapp, etc).
For a localizer interception at 3000 ft you have to be farther than 9 Nm.

#15

this might help with base and other patterns (just in case)

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#16

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