AutoMatic Landing

[Brad12345]

hey guys i used to play this game a fair while ago
ive only just put it back on and now i forget how to make the boeing land automatically all i had to do was go up and down and throttle
how do i do it i know that you get the ils frequency of the airport put the waypoint in the Gps then select the procedures page then choose seleect approach then select the runway and press activate but then i dont know wat to do next
thanks

[Brad12345]

also i didnt have to line it up with the runway my self, it would do it for me, some guys on multiplayer told me how to do it along time ago

[beefhole]

It's good to hear that you already know how to program a GPS approach, I normally have such a hard time explaining it.  

First, an ILS approach is NOT considered an automatic landing, and for a very good reason-in real life, there is something called Autoland, which will do the whole bit for you (flaring and everything).  In FS, we have APP hold, which follows the ILS glideslope, and that's it.  You have to flare and rollout.  I'm sure one of our other fine members can give you a more comprehensive explanation, but here's some food for thought-

First, ILS freqs go in the Nav1 portion of the radio stack.

Next, you must have the Nav/GPS mode switch set to Nav when you hit APP (this is what will automatically follow the glideslope)

Now, since you will be using GPS approaches, this gets a bit tricky.  In order to use a GPS approach the Nav/GPS switch must be set to GPS, and the NAV hold button must be on.  For transition to ILS approach, hit heading hold (make sure the dial is set to your current heading), then switch the knobs (Nav/GPS to Nav, and at ILS intercept, HDG to APP)

Always intercept the glideslope (the pink arrows) from below.  This means that the pink arrow on the verticle axis should be above the center circle when you hit APP (the pink arrows can be found on your PFD, where your attitude indicator is-on some planes, you must first be in Nav mode in order to see the "glideslope").  Hit APP (make sure Nav/GPS is set to Nav!) shortly before the vertical arrow reaches the center cirlce, and you'll make a smooth transition.

Please post back if any of that is confusing-I knwo I was mind-boggled.  But hopefully this will jog your memory

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you save when you have NAV hold on and are following a GPS approach, pause the game before you save!  Programmed GPS approaches ARE NOT saved when you load the game!
i.e. when you load the game, the plane will immediately turn towards your previosu flight path tot he airport, not the programmed GPS one!

[Pegase]

The more automatic I know is using the app button on the automatic pilot.

During the flight I always keep the heading, altitude and set the descent with the automatic pilot. That way I only have to handle the speed.

All the approach is done with the automatic altitude and manual speed and heading to intercept the ILS localiser before the glide slope.

When intercepted the glide slope, I actiivate the app button on the automatic pilot..

Still manual speed control and I deactivate tje automatic pilot near the runway theshold.

About the GPS I just learnt the minimal thing to get the professional checkride and... forgot all of it as soon as I got it...

[dave3cu]

The GPS section of the FS Learning Center does a pretty good job of explaining proceedural approaches using the GPS.

Cheers,
Dave

[beefhole]

When intercepted the glide slope, I actiivate the app button on the automatic pilot..

Still manual speed control and I deactivate tje automatic pilot near the runway theshold.

A little fact I just learned, you're not allowed to control speed manually on ILS landings-you MUST use the autothrottle (or maybe it's only on autolandings-somebody correct me if I'm worng)

Also, it is strongly recommended you use autothrottle from AP engagement after takeoff to flaring over the threshhold, except for fast descents where idle power is necessary.

[Nexus]

A little fact I just learned, you're not allowed to control speed manually on ILS landings-you MUST use the autothrottle (or maybe it's only on autolandings-somebody correct me if I'm worng)

Also, it is strongly recommended you use autothrottle from AP engagement after takeoff to flaring over the threshhold, except for fast descents where idle power is necessary.

I will try to clear things out here, it's a bit confusing at time  :)

Regarding autothrottle on ILS approaches (not autolandings) that are MANUALLY flown, the AT must be disengaged no later than 50ft AGL,  for non-precision approaches it's 100ft.
So you can't use the A/T to control your speed all the way down to the runway when the AP is off.

I will recite the b737 manual
"The characteristics of the Autothrottle Landing Flare Retard Mode are not intended, nor are they predictable enough,  for landing with manual control inputs"

But as soon as you conduct an autoland, the A/T must be engaged.

Clearer?  :)

[Nav]

Brad - this might help:-

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 1111322151

[Pegase]

Also, it is strongly recommended you use autothrottle from AP engagement after takeoff to flaring over the threshhold, except for fast descents where idle power is necessary.

Could be but I usually don't like this A/T
In climbing, if I want to keep 90% N1, the best way to control the speed is playing with the climbing rate.

But OK, A/T is nice to keep under Vmax in longs flight segment and prepare a cup of coffee

In descent, it can be tricky, the throttle value can get very far from the joystick handle and when getting back in manual mode it can be confusing.

[beefhole]

I was refering to ILS landings being flown with APP hold Nexus, thanks for clearing that up.

Hey, wait a minute-Autoland isn't just an ILS with APP is it? Autoland is a specific mode where it flares for you, I thought...

[jrpilot]

You also need 2+ autopilots incase of a failure...which means both radios and CRS tuned manually for the approach, and of course both A/P's on

[Nexus]

I was refering to ILS landings being flown with APP hold Nexus, thanks for clearing that up.

Hey, wait a minute-Autoland isn't just an ILS with APP is it? Autoland is a specific mode where it flares for you, I thought...

the APP hold in the FS default 737 works similar to a single channel approach in a real 737, which means you can fly all the way down to 50ft AGL before you disconnect the autopilot. But as Jr. correctly pointed out, for an AUTOLAND, you'd need 2 or more independent autopilots  :)

[beefhole]

Good, that's what I thought.  Thanks