Simviation Forums

I would like to know the difference between the GPS activate vector to finals and activate approach? when do i do what?

And when is the right time to switch between GPS And NAV when im going to aproach and land, i saw some tutorials on youtube and some people say you need to activate NAV when youre on the localizer but some other says that if you activate the vectors to finals can swith to NAV even tough youre not even on the localizer, im a bit noob on this but i want to learn more! thanks for answers

freddeew wrote:I would like to know the difference between the GPS activate vector to finals and activate approach? when do i do what?

And when is the right time to switch between GPS And NAV when im going to aproach and land, i saw some tutorials on youtube and some people say you need to activate NAV when youre on the localizer but some other says that if you activate the vectors to finals can swith to NAV even tough youre not even on the localizer, im a bit noob on this but i want to learn more! thanks for answers

You are a little confused. There are several types of approaches. IFR VFR GPS for starters. And there other approaches as well.
There are also different types of IFR approaches depending on weather conditions.
As for when to switch to NAV I usually make the switch when ATC tells me to turn from my filed flight plan to make a IFR or Visual VFR approach.
If you are flying VFR you will not get any vectors to your destination airport. You will have to contact the airport when you get close enough.
A GPS approach is a horse of a different kind.I suggest you Google this as it is rather lengthy.
Your best bet here is to read up on the different types of approaches some are very complicated and the aircraft and pilot has to be certified before using some approaches.

>>I would like to know the difference between the GPS activate vector to finals and activate approach? when do i do what?<<

From your post I'm guessing you're not using an IFR flight plan. That means you have no ATC clearance and NO "vectors to final" from ATC. So, no need to bother with the GPS "activate vector to finals."

Following quote is from the learning center GPS help file; "Activating the approach overrides the en-route portion of the active flight plan, proceeding directly to the approach portion (for a full approach, directly to the initial approach fix). If you have no flight plan at all, then activating the approach, with autopilot engaged and in GPS mode, will take you directly to the initial approach fix or the entry point of the first leg of the approach.

>>And when is the right time to switch between GPS And NAV when im going to aproach and land<<

If you are flying a precision approach such as an ILS and want to use the vertical guidance provided by the glide slope you must switch to NAV mode so the autopilot and the HSI are getting information from the Nav 1 receiver - (which you have tuned to the correct ILS frequency!).
If you want to fly a coupled precision approach engaging the autopilot APP mode so it will track the localizer and the glide slope you must be in NAV mode. If you only want the autopilot to track the localizer you can stay in GPS mode but you'll have to control the descent.

If you are flying a non precision approach such as a VOR, VOR/DME, GPS/VOR, NDB, RNAV etc. then you may stay in GPS mode and let the GPS fly the approach. Since a non precision approach has no nav aid guided vertical component you'll have to control the descent to decision height.

I suggest you read the Learning Center help on the GPS. Then take to heart the 3 suggestions on the first page: 1. Read this article. 2. Experiment 3. Repeat as necessary.

Practice makes perfect! Well, maybe not perfect but better! Enjoy.

CP ASMEL Instruments

You probably don't have an approach plate with the vertical information for your approach. You can use an altitude of 2,500 feet ABOVE the field elevation of the destination airport while maneuvering to the final approach fix. You should also have your airspeed reduced to something close to the recommended approach speed for your aircraft.

CP ASMEL Instruments