I have noticed a problem ( or maybe it's not a problem) for a long time regarding the Display of ILS Frequencies on the Approach Reference Screen. In the past 2 days I have flown 2 flights where the ILS Frequency was not displayed until I was already on the ILS about 10DME from the runway. Luckily I have FS Nav and can read the ILS frequencies as soon as ATC gives me the runway assignment. Prior to FS Nav , it was a real problem to have to constantly look at the Appr Ref screen as I was intercepting the Localizer, and sometimes I would overshoot the localizer ( under ATC vectors) and still not have the ILS Freq to tune into. Is this a normal function of the FMC, and if not, is it something I am doing incorrectly or an FMC Problem. This happened on Runway 6 ILS to Birmingham today, I was 10 DME out and already lined up on the localizer, before the ILS Freq popped up.

IIRC the FMC InitRef page will display the ILS info once the aircraft has achieved the cruise altitude set as part of the flight plan, and if an ILS-equipped runway has been selected as the DST. Did you start descent before TOC? If so, did you use "descend now" on the descent page (which I *think* should force the ILS display). At what point in the flight did you set the DST runway? Please describe the flight plan and flight modes used in more detail.

Normal flight, climb and descent to about 50% of cruise altitude. At that point ATC assigned vectors to approach and ILS Runway, and I programmed the ILS into the FMC, as always. This was 40 miles out. Vectors by ATC continued until I was on the ILS at about 12 miles out. Still no frequency displayed. Then about 10 miles out, it finally showed up.

Bob,The FMC assumes an ordered sequence of events : TO/CLIMB/CRUISE/DESCENT/APPROACH. Seems you skipped CRUISE. Here is a trick : If already leveled off as some intermediate altitude reset the target altitude to the present value in the CRZ page and only then start descent. If not presently leveled off (i.e. still climbing) then do that, reset the CRZ alt etc as above.Best,Vangelis====================================== E. M. Vaos Precision Manuals Development Group www.precisionmanuals.com======================================

Sorry, left ut cruise in my post. Did that for about 50 miles.

Bob,What I think Evangelis was trying to tell you is that the FMC doesn't recognize you are in cruise until you reach the target cruise altitude entered on the PERF INIT page or the CRZ page.I think he mentioned this because you where saying you climbed to 50% of your cruise altitude. This means, in the FMC's world, you are still in CLB until you start to descent when the FMC goes to DES mode. So, by not climbing to CRZ altitude or resetting the CRZ altitude to your selected altitude you made the FMC to skip the CRZ segment of flight. And this is the segment where the FMC populates the APPROACH page. Quod Erat Demonstrandum!Cheers,

I guess I didn't write it clearly enough. I meant that I got up to cruise altitude " after about 50 miles or so at cruise" I descended to about 50% of that altitude. Arriving at 50% of my cruise altitude, that is when ATC began vectoring me for the ILS.