Simviation Forums

why cant i catch the localizer i put in the freq. and ativate it but it dosent show up it just keeps on calling

Are you sure you have your NAV/GPS switch set to NAV?

Dunno- what specifically are you doing, and what is it doing/not doing? The GPS/NAV switch could be it, or it could be the STANDBY/ACTIVE switch, or I could just go on guessing- but details would help alot in troubleshooting. Does it happen in all the planes you've tried it in?

i do believe you have to have the vor set to the runway heading as well...non?

A Quick Check, Using a 737 as an example:

(1) Set ILS Frequency and ILS Course
(2) Hit the square button (sometimes a nav1 switch on some planes) to make it active
(3) Ensure you had the altitude hold on and set to the last setting given by control (usually but not always 1800-3000)
(4) Ensure you selected the correct ILS runway on the sat/nav (Garmin)
(5) When you get the message from control to stay at that altitude until on the localizer, that is a good time to proceed with (6)
(6) Activate the approach on the Sat/Nav (Garmin)
(7) Ensure the GPS/Nav selector switch is on NAV
(8) Hit APP Hold and this will set the correct Nav Approach in motion

You need to adjust the speed on automatic throttle to 145 knots and 30 deg flaps, as you get into a straight line heading for the runway the heading light will extinguish (I then set mine to the same heading as the course so its ready for a go around).  Around this time you will get permission to land.  At about 3 nm from the runway (not from the external marker, so don`t panic) the Altitude Hold light should extinguish.  You are now on both the horizontal and vertical beam as I term them.  At between 200 fett minimum and 500/600feet you decide to take off autothrottle and AP.  I use 200 feet unless the system hasn`t quite lined me up.  Remember somewhere around this stage to set the Speedbrake

Reider

speedbrake...is that the reverse thrust?  How do you set that?  I thought you just hit the "/" key after nosewheel down...

[quote]speedbrake...is that the reverse thrust?

thank you for reverse thrust...i remember reading that now somewhere...i knew how to deploy the speed breaks, but what does "setting" the speed breaks mean?  That is different than deploy, right?

The term speed brakes are a little vague as only military and high speed aircraft actually have true speed brakes. They are usually on the fuselage and will cause the aircraft to slow down thus the term speed brakes. Most commercial aircraft use spoilers which are on the wings and are used to make the wing loose lift.
So there is a difference between speed brakes and spoilers. Spoilers can be used to slow you down but are not there normal function. It would not be a good idea to deploy spoilers while going 300 knots. Doing so could result in the loss of a wing
Where speed brakes are used to do just that a jet fighter can deploy them as a mean to slow down quickly. Speed brakes have holes in them so deploying them at high speeds will not cause damage to them. 8-)

If you set the speedbrakes before landing, they are activated and ready to deploy.  After touching down, you apply the brakes and the speedbrakes deploy and start to increase pressure, you see the lever moving near the throttle levers.  When down to 60 knots, release the speedbrakes.

Reider

Shift / arms the spoilers and they come up automatically on landing.  You sound like you need to work your way through a tutorial flight.  Make sure you have the ILS frequency on nav 1 - and that you have clicked the double headed arrow to make this frequency the primary.  Put the autopilot on heading hold, and aim it on a course 45degrees to the inbound ILS leg. Put the nav/gps switch to NAV.  Make sure your altitude is below the two yellow bars, or similar, that will appear on your VOR indicator. All being set up, your aircraft will turn onto the ILS inbound heading and begin descent when it intercepts the glideslope.  The yellow pointer on the VOR will work whatever heading it happens to be on (on the ILS the instrument ignores the heading and reacts to your orientation in relation to the inbound course).  However to be useful you should always set it to the runway heading (as you should your ordinary heading indicator), so you can get an accurate picture of whether you are right on the beam or whether you are one side or the other.  Sure use your autopilot to get familiar, then start flying the ILS by hand - that way you can reall practice real world instrument flying.

A navigation link another kind soul in simviation supplied to me and so I'll supply it to you. It sure does help when you're learning!

http://www.navfltsm.addr.com/index.htm


Nigel