Simviation Forums

Hi. I noticed when using ILS for landing at some smaller airports, (ie, no tower), that the ILS will line me up with the runway heading properly, yet I don't get the glide slope indicator moving. Is this to be expected sometimes, an FSX boo-boo, or am I not getting something quite right? Usually my ILS works perfectly so I am pretty sure I understand how to make it work.  Thanks  Rick

That is most likely a ,  "Localizer Only" approach (no glideslope).

FSX represents them accurately, both in function, and location.

The best thing to do (just like you would for real), is to make sure that your flight plan includes research about destination and alternate airports..  at least check to see how they're equiped.. and ideally, you'll have a downloaded and printed approach plate handy

8-)

...... AND.. your next question would be, "How do I maintain proper altitude throughout the approach ?"

That information is on the approach plate.. learning to

Hi Brett, thanks for the reply. So, in essence there are 2 different kinds of landing/approach aids--another interesting thing to have learned. Are there more than just the 2 different kinds? Does FSX let you know what you are going to run into when you look at the map? I get all my VOR, NDB and landing numbers from there, but I'm unsure exactly how much more info is on that map.
As far as altitude goes--well, there have been a few times when I somehow had to turn into a dive bomber  :-[      I have never seen approach plates in the sim, so if I want them, I need to go find 'em I guess huh?  Any reccomendations?   Thanks again.  Rick

A great place for approach plates is airnav, here: http://www.airnav.com/airports/

Just type in the airport you want and scroll down to "IAPs - Instrument Approach Procedures"

There you'll find any approach plate you'll need, as well as take-off minimums and departure procedures.


You'll find a lot of different types of approach procedures there.

[quote]Hi Brett, thanks for the reply. So, in essence there are 2 different kinds of landing/approach aids--another interesting thing to have learned. Are there more than just the 2 different kinds? Does FSX let you know what you are going to run into when you look at the map? I get all my VOR, NDB and landing numbers from there, but I'm unsure exactly how much more info is on that map.
As far as altitude goes--well, there have been a few times when I somehow had to turn into a dive bomber

As far as reading them goes, here is a thread where Brett and I worked through the approach plate for the VOR 34 approach into Seattle:

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1187494292



Wow, that thread is almost two years old now, seems like just yesterday.  Time flies I guess...

@Mobius...

Our posts are dove-tailing, and getting edited.. LOL

RickG.. make sure you re-read them  :)

And yeah.. that was a fun, short thread..  geeez.. time DOES fly.

When you have a question.. link the plate, and we'll take it from there..  hopefully we'll cover a few different approaches.

Hi guys. Wow, there sure seems to be a lot of interesting info on that approach plates site--thanks. I just gave it a quick look, but was wondering if there's the same for Canada? I checked a whack of sites, but they weren't the same. Thanks again. Rick

I've never looked for Canadian plates.. I'll look into it..

If you do get to the point where you're wanting to learn this stuff.. your first forray will be difficult and frustrating.

The sim is an EXCELLENT training device for this stuff. Set weather/visibility for the minimums on the plate your using.. place yourself at an airport about 50nm away. Carefully plan how you'll get yourself there (VOR/NDB) (NO GPS).. and TAKEOFF

Hi again guys. I have one question (so far lol)  I did a flight into KBLI, Bellingham Wash, runway 34, and approached from the south. I was using a vor which is like 13, I think it was, miles north of the airport. Now the only way I knew so was looking at the distances displayed on the radio stack, compared to the gps. I did not fly with gps, just used it to see the difference. So now, looking at the approach plate, it says to start descending from 3100 down to 2000at about 11.5 miles out. My distance indicator on the radio of course was further, so without using the gps, how would I have known the distance to the airport?  By the way, I did have a nice smooth descent--  Rick

I just checked approaches for KBLI... The only approach for runway 34 is an RNAV(GPS).. so you

Here is the VOR approach for runway 16R at KPAE.. This is a good choice, as it's relatively simple.. AND

OK Brett, mission accomplished. I did that flight a number of times coming in from different angles, as well as a few go-arounds and all worked well.  Couple questions on the approach plate tho. Near the bottom of the diagram where it says your altitude should be 2000, and your go-around instructions, does that 140 degree bit mean that I was supposed to approach the runway on a heading of 140? And what does that 320 degrees part mean? Thanks