APR (approach)

[jrpilot]

Hello,

I was wondering on exactly what the APR button in auto pilot does when landing, does it land for you if so does it flare also.




      Thank you

[Simviation2003]

G'day jrpilot,

You will find that the (APR) buttom on the autopilot is used in conjuction with an ILS facilitated runway.

Once your've preformed your pre-landing checks, and have turned onto base leg, activate the APR button and the aircraft will do the rest.

PLEASE NOTE: The autopilot can only track an ILS if you have entered the correct frequency into the NAV 1 radio, and that you have the NAV/GPS swith on NAV.

As far as landing it itself, Not really, I have 1 aircraft of about 20 that can succesfully land itself. I usually have the autpilot fly the aircraft to the MIDDLE MARKER than I disconnect the AP and fly the rest manually.

Hope this helps

SV2003

[OTTOL]

APPR or APR is used in conjunction with an ILS approach. You have to have the frequency tuned in your primary NAV radio, the course set to the proper radial, and your GPS/NAV switch selected to NAV. To save some time(as far as finding an approach plate etc.), go to Fort Lauderdale KFLL. Set your frequency to 110.1, your course to 093, and make sure you select the NAV setting. Try this in clear Wx (weather) first. Fly about 12 miles NW of the airport and climb to 2000'. Once you get there, make a Left turn to about a 150degree HEADING,  and then with the autopilot selected to ALT(2000')and HDG(150degrees) wait for the COURSE needle to "come alive" (start moving). Once this begins to happen, select APR. The autopilot should do the rest. You will have to regulate airpspeed with power, and for a CAT1 ILS, turn off the autopilot at around 200',  and land the airplane yourself.

[N4733D]

If flying a CAT III approach, all the way to 50 feet or autoland, the ILS system in FS2002 would not be useful. In reality the planes flare themselves, however, the planes in 2002 will just kinda....keep going...lol The 747 (default) is really good at landing itself if you handle it right. My 727 for 2002 got an autoland upgrade and will be out soon with its new panel. The 777 is too hard to use the ILS APR option anyways, just fly the ILS manually. Other than that, your best bet is this:

Fly the approach at your final approach speed (if you are in a jet, 140 KIAS is a good judgement) around the pattern or straight it. Get down to 2000 or the altitude ATC clears you too (which is near 2000 anyways usually) and fly towards the ILS. With the frequency tuned, the ILS bars come alive. In reality you have an option here, turn it on or line it up. For the sake of not sending your wonderful sim-plane all over the glidescope to possibly a fiery 10-foot crater, I suggest you get it either descending on the glidescope, or lined up and 1-2 dots below. The autopilot will really do well if you line it up like this and will handle well. Placing it one or two dots below gives it time to push the nose over and intercept and is my prefered method.
If you REALLY want a challenge, try a CAT III autoland in the worst you can get. Do moderate crosswinds, 1/16 mile visibility with storms and fog and all that fun stuff. The autopilot will do good if you set it up and will really leave you with lots of smiles at the gate.