Auto-Land

[Foxtrot Sport]

Hey,

I was wondering how you can use the autopilot to land the plane, or at least bring you into the direction of the runway.  I have been looking around and there must be a hundred posts on this topic so sorry, I am still new to flying, and most of those flights are VFR, to get the real, non bus driver, feel.  Anyways i need some real help here, what is a glidescope and ILS landing frequencys, I DONT KNOW.  Help pleez.  Thanx

-HF

[Nexus]

first it's glideSLOPE, not SCOPE  :)

To land by itself the plane obviously must know where the runway is. This is where ILS (instrument landing system) comes into play; Simply put ILS are two radio beacons; one guides the aircraft lateral (localizer), and the other one vertical (glideslope). When the ILS frequency is dialed in (always in odd tenths and hundreds within the 108.10 to 111.95mHz band) the aircraft "knows" what to track to safely land on the runway.

I suggest you search for "ILS" in the forum here, I know for sure that there have been several topics regarding ILS and auto-landings with great explanations from other members.

Just a heads up though, no FS default plane can actually land by itself, but they do a decent job in aligning you with the runway. Just disconnect the autopilot and land by yourself  :)

A true autolanding system is described below, one of the finest automatic landing systems ever designed; The one of the Lockheed L1011, more known as the TriStar

"Yaw damper switches to parallel operation/runway alignment begins at 150 feet radio height.
Flare begins at 50 feet radio height.
Autothrottles disconnect at 5 feet radio height.
After touchdown, the nosewheel is lowered automatically, spoilers are extended, and the runway centerline is tracked, following the localizer beam.
The only thing the pilot needs to do is apply the brakes/select reverse thrust."

[WebbPA]

There is no quick fix to learning how to fly, navigate and land.  You have to wade through the learning curve like everyone else did.

Here are a couple of good places to start:

http://www.emeraldair.net/training.html

http://www.tooby.demon.co.uk/FS2002/FS2 ... stant.html

The most important thing is to stick with it.

[Gary R.]

Well, here are my pointers.  First, you must learn to correctly use the nav radios and the HSI.  Firstly, consult your mapview.  Locate the vor/navaid that you need to track.  In the case of an airport,click on that airports icon and a pop-up will open with all that airport's data listed.  You will info like geographic co-ordinates, elevation, frequencies, runway numbers, lengths and headings.  The last is what you are going to require.  Check for whatever runway at assigns you for your landing and note the ILS frequency and the heading.  Close the mapview and go to you nav1 radio. Dial in the ILS frequncy on your nav1 and switch it to active. Rotate your HSI course indicator (NOT THE HEADING BUG) till you have it pointing on your runway heading.  Okay, now you are set-up to track the glideslope.  Most glideslopes are angled for interception at approxitmatly 10 miles out and airport altitude+2000ft. (guys, correct me if I'm wrong there).  Most airports have approach plates that list the navaids pilots can use to navigate their aircraft into position to inteercept a glideslope but that's another lesson. For now track you position simply using the gps and the altitude reference I gave you.  Observe you HSI, you will see a bug, usually on the right of the gauge.  Thats your vertical reference.  If its high on the gauge, assend, if it's low, descend.  You need to keep it centered to track the slope correctlyly.  the line across the middle of the HSI is your course line. You need to keep it centered. If its right fly right if its left fly left.  Thats all there is to it really. You can set your ap for nav and let it track you laterally while you control your descent with your throttle and pitch trim.  If your speed is correct for your planes weight and our flaps setting is correct you should be able to control you descent with mostly fine throttle adjustments and very little need to use the stick/yoke.  A typical vsi for approach is about 700fpm give or take.  When you get over the runway threshold, disconnect the ap so you can steer once you touch down.  Give it a try and good luck.  Also, if you have V numbers and wieght references for your aircraft I suggest you try to hold to those numbers for safest approaches.  Not usually and issue with light GA aircraft but should you decide to try out an advanced airliner sim you will need to follow those numbers.  Happy Landings.

[Craig.]

Just a heads up though, no FS default plane can actually land by itself, but they do a decent job in aligning you with the runway. Just disconnect the autopilot and land by yourself  

mine seem to flare just above the runway, something they didnt do in 2002, just nosed down into the ground there

[Nexus]

Its still not a autoland system, per definition Craig. And every once in a while the default AP behaves VERY odd during approach..

[Gary R.]

Well, that is true.  I never use the aproach mode on the AP. that seems to be the most problematic.  I always simply use regular vorlock to track the course and manually control descent using my throttle adjustments and as needed pitch adjustments which I know that isn't exactly realistic either as many real world aircraft descend with throttles on idle and if the flap setting is correct for the weight very few pitch adjustments are needed either.  But, this is MS afterall.  I've flown add-on planes that do approach close to correctly.  Real Airs planes do and the flight1 DC-9 comesvery close  to realistic approach behavior.  Its very sad when add-on designers with far less resources than MS has can improve over their basic product.  these are just among the many things that we as a customer community need to put pressure on MS for.  The real nuts and bolts of real world flying.  NOT EYECANDY.  If all those people that griped about the silly bridges would have griped instead about flight dynamics and other physics matters that are flawed in the MSFS franchise than who knows what good things might have been included in the update.

[Nav]

Oddly enough, I've told people often enough that there is no true 'autoland' capability on FS.  A few days ago I found one, by accident.

I downloaded a Super VC10 and found that it had an actual 'autoland' facility.  Much to my surprise, it was fun to use for a change - although it's eerie, you don't trust it at first.  It does the flare for you, sits the aeroplane down, and even turns itself off......

I later recalled that it was a standard fitment on the VC10 - on the Trident as well, I think.  So it isn't 'cheating'.  You have to get the ILS and altimeter settings right, of course, and the speed.

Can't remember where I downloaded it from off-hand.  It might even have been from here!  But search 'FS2004 VC10' and I'm sure it will come up.

[alrot]

Interesting topic,still how can i set both frecuencies,Localizer,and glideslope.is it allowed if i set  both frecuencies in nav1 radio display???
I didn't know that also vertical aproach could be controled by ILS,i thought it was just lateral movements

[Nav]

Big subject, ALROT.  You'll find that there's a lot of help in the 'Learning Centre' on FS.  But here's a start - how lo land yer av'rage airliner using ILS.

1.  Call up the map, enlarge it, click on the runways of the airport.  Note down the ILS frequency, direction, and height of the 'runway in use' ATC will have given you when they cleared you.

2.  Set yourself up at say 240 knots, say 20 miles out, on a course which is approaching the runway line at an angle of 30 or 40 degrees (i.e. if the runway direction is 150 degrees, 'Runway 15', approach at say 180 degrees).  It is important to approach an ILS beam from BELOW, so get your height down to say 2,000 feet in good time.

3.  Set the ILS frequency on NAV1 and set the pointer on the HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) to the runway direction.  You should see a long pointer showing the runway direction and a shorter line to one side, which shows you how far you are from that line.  You should also see the distance on the DME in miles.

4.  Leave the course and height settings ON, but ALSO click on the button marked 'APR'.  That stands for 'Approach'.  At say 12 miles, reduce to 220 knots  and put down 5 degrees of flap.

5.  In due course the Approach Mode will 'capture' the ILS, turn off the 'Heading Hold' for you, and turn you on course for the runway.  The NAV1 display will also show a pointer or pointers showing that you are below the glideslope.

6.  As the pointer begins to move down, cut the speed to 180, lower the gear, and shove on another notch of  flap.  'Approach Mode' will turn off the 'Altitude Hold' for you at the right moment, and start you down the glideslope.

7.  Set the speed to 140 and watch the ASI - progressively add flap as the speed decreases, until you have it all on.

By this time you should be in a stable descent and able to see the runway.   As soon as you feel you are close enough to be confident, turn off the autopilot and autothrottle, cut the power, flare, and land.

[Gary R.]

Anyone looking for the VC-10 which Nav mentioned in his reply can find it at avsim.

[elkinallen]

The RFP classic 747-200 by panelshop has an authentic autopilot that is nearly Identical to the CATIIIc autoland system.   It will engage the LOC, begin the decent, cut power, flare, land and apply the brakes!!!!!!!

It is a joy!!!!!!!!!