Backcourse ILS approaches

[twrofpwr]

Hello everyone. I am trying to figure out what is meant by "backcourse approach". My best guess is it is flying a runway ILS beacon from the opposite end of the runway the beacon was inteneded for.  Take for example London airport CYXU in Onatrio. Does backcourse mean I can use the localizer for runway 33 for runway landing on runway 15?

How does this work, the glidepath would never be correct woudln't it? The runway you might be able to line up but how do you line up the glideapath? I find even lining up with the runway itself is too sensative, it goes from middle to far left, you correct turning right maybe 3 degrees, and it goes blowing by to the right, I can never get the approach right from the opposite runway.

Any help is very appreciated, thanks very much,

Jeff

[gw]

I've come across this from time to time.  As I understand it you fly the approach with the localizer only.  There is no glideslope so you have to refer to the published charts for the airport (if you have them).  They will tell you that you have to be a certain altitudes at certain distances as you approach the runway.

If you've done anything with the instrument rating checkride it's like the VOR approach.

gw

[Nexus]

gw has it down correct. You can use the localizer, BUT there is one thing you must know.
When performing a BC approach, the localizer movement will be "mirrored", so if the localizer needle deviates to the right, you shouldn't follow the needle, but instead turn left  :)

[MIKE JG]

Another trick with localizer back courses:

[twrofpwr]

Thanks a lot guys, that is great help. Basicaly I guess if you are flying with close to 0 miles visibility you would not want to fly on a runway on the backcourse, and find another airport close by with ILS to use the proper course when there is wind... I guess usually when there is wind it is pretty calm and isn't a scenerio that comes up too much, and you could fly the normal ILS approach... I am trying to crank up the difficulty adding wind and no visibility to practise IFR, this program is great.

Thanks again,

Jeff.