by macca22au » Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:58 pm
Alex: It is always better to learn how to fly the ILS manually first. That way you really understand how to do them.
In the real world you read the approach chart over carefully before you get too close. If you are not being controlled, you plan your angle to intercept the inbound leg, shown by the localiser needle. Always have a clear picture in the mind of how your plane is flying over an imaginary compass to intercept the ILS at 45deg angle.
Intercept the glideslope, the horizontal bar, or moving dot on the side scale of the display in more complex aircraft, at an altitude that is below - that is make the 'bar' come down to you, then begin your descent to keep the bar or dot in the middle position. I try to intercept the glideslope at 2500ft, but this varies of course. On the ILS chart it will show a glideslope interception altitude.
Usually a descent using a vertical speed of 600 feet per minute is standard.
The key to a precision approach is not to chase the needles, but always to make small corrections in the direction that is needed to bring the pointers back into the centre.
A heavier aircraft is more stable on the ILS when you hand fly it ----- but harder to get out of trouble if you get the approach messed up.
A small aircraft is less stable, so it is easier to get deviation in the needles - that is off the localiser or above or below the glideslope --- but easier to correct. I have done some spectacular nearly aerobatics on the ILS in small aircraft -- but it makes your instructor go red in the face.
I'm with Brett, learn to fly these approaches, NDB, VOR, ILS, GPS - and I hope soon in FSX, the new GNSS approaches, by hand. And if something goes wrong, what the heck, just press escape and start again.