Simviation Forums

Hiya,

When i am flying into airports, i get cleared by air traffic control to descend + maintain about 1000-2000 feet. To me this seems low when i am still about 25 miles out.

Is there any way to change this, or is this in fact correct?

It is a pain when landing at Manchester (EGCC) on approach to 24L because you have to fly over areas of high ground + it seems really low.

Thanks,
Richard.

You can 'change' it any time you like, rich, by planning your flight VFR instead of IFR. Then you can approach at whatever height you like.

But ATC will normally bring you down quite low quite early. Why is it a problem? Unless of course they're vectoring you into mountains?  :)

What VS are you using?  Once cleared to a low altitude, if you're not coming in for a straight-in approach, you should be using a VS of about -1200 FPM, as opposed to the -1800 FPM default.  If you have to come AAALLLL the way around for the runway, -1000 FPM to -800 FPM will do.  Make sure not to reduce your speed too much either-crossing 10,000', I try to be at about 245 kts (you are not allowed to exceed 250 below 10,000' in US airspace as well as in many other countries), and I generally reduce that very little until I'm actually cleared for the ILS approach.  Sounds to me like too high a VS is to blame here

I also like to be in the glide slope from higher and farther. 1000 ft can be quite short to adjust the speed and pitch.

But in this part I find the ATC very well done. I never crashed in a moutain.

Try a go to Malaga, depending the wind direction if comes from NW sector,  the ATC  will assign you to the 320 all approach is above the see and you will have to keep 1800  ft until you intercept the GS. if the wind is SE sector, then you will be assigned to runway 140, the approach is all above and between mountains giving very exiting views.  It became my favorite destination. On this one, you will have to keep 4200 until GS interception.  NB: you can land and take of from Malaga  with any aircraft from ultra light to super heavy

Here's the realworld procedure if it's of any help. Looks like 2100ft. to me (for Cat. A,B)



Bill
P.S. NOTICE the 5.2 slope; there's no ILS 24L plate at AIS's site

24L! You shouldn't realluy be landing there. No proper taxi ways there! You have to go right to the end and turn back, causing a lot of agro with A.T.C, Ask for Vectors to final 24R better landing. And if you have a decent download scenery for MAN then you can see Old Trafford e,t,c. Plus 24R is easier to get to a gate