Do Real-life pilots....

[sunlord_clave]

...use the "Approach" button on the Autopilot? Is using that on FS a bit like cheating? Because it lines you up with the runway so well and nearly lands on its own as well. I wonder if this is how real-life commercial pilots land?

[Crussell]

I guess they would, if it was a Checkerboard approach, such as Kai Tak before it closed.

[Nexus]

Yes, real world pilots are recommended to use automatic flight as much as possible.
It is not cheating. However most pilots lands the plane manually, turning off the autopilot at their own discretion and just use the flight director.

And the autopilot would not be able to line up your airplane ai Kai Tak

[C]

And the autopilot would not be able to line up your airplane ai Kai Tak

What about (talking purely theoretically - the darn place is closed - and talking pre GPS - not that I'm aware of any GPS based approaches) if you had a dual ILS system; one on the hill, and one in a normal place. I suppose it could be done (theoretically) but the kit wouldn't really cope capturing the second localiser and glidepath!

[Nexus]

Hi Charlie!
I wouldn't really know for sure  (I'm not an engineer, I just fly the damn plane  >:( )
But there are a system that is capable of curved approach path guidance. It's called the Microwave Landing System (MLS) and was supposed to be the next "big thing" in approach technology. But the system is helluva expensive and the bean counters at FAA and here in Europe weren't really in favor of it.
I know some aiports installed it during testings etc.

But I've never encountered MLS in real life (that's not saying much, though    :P )

[RitterKreuz]

the approach button is usually used during an ILS approach when the weather is down close to minimums by most pilots. Some pilots disconnect the autopilot at the 500 foot call. others do it 100 foot above minimums, some hand fly the whole approach.

note about approach mode... you must be - below - the glideslope for the intercept to occur.

[got_wings]

Well i guess thats not cheating... but y do it? most likly you will be blown off course here and there... I never use it in real life... although im flying a cessna-172... but still... you should be able to do it on your own... just give it time and practice!!! 8-)