I am getting the hang of this a bit more now, but transplanting my meagre knowledge to different flights than the tutorial, I have come across little things that are confusing me.For example: In the tutorial, when you enter the approach, you scroll down and it tells you to select MUFFE. ( I think this was a turn point on the approach? ) I applied same principles to another flight , but on the options available was vectors, and 2 other abbreviations. How do I know which to choose and what are these different abbreviations, and what do they mean? Thx, Mark

I am getting the hang of this a bit more now, but transplanting my meagre knowledge to different flights than the tutorial, I have come across little things that are confusing me.For example: In the tutorial, when you enter the approach, you scroll down and it tells you to select MUFFE. ( I think this was a turn point on the approach? ) I applied same principles to another flight , but on the options available was vectors, and 2 other abbreviations. How do I know which to choose and what are these different abbreviations, and what do they mean? Thx, Mark

More then likely the tutorial is using on your approach a standard terminal arrival procedure or STAR. Muffe is more then likely your turn to final intersection. Here is a link to a star for KDTW http://myairplane.com/databases/approach/pdfs/00119SPICA.PDF as an example. Vectors means that the air traffic controller will give you instructions. What program or plane are you trying to use?

Mark,Look at your intended destination airport on th map. If you were to extend an imaginary line out from the runway which you are going to use, you will find it intersects some small triangles on the map. These intersections have 5 letter names like MAFFE or whatever. Find one thats on the transition list in the GPS that gives you best angle for your approach and highlight it with the cursor. Now highlight LOAD to enter that approach complete with your chosen transition. Now somewhere about 30 miles or so out from your destination, go to the GPS, highlight ACTIVATE and enter, and a magenta course line will appear from your present position to your chosen transition. Your now flying the approach. This is a very simplified explanation and does not take into consideration ATC or proper IFR rules, but it will help you work through using the GPS. Happy Flying!CraigG

craiggaudreau, is pointing you in the proper direction. Sort this stuff out during flight planning. And have a printed approach plate handy during planning, as well as for the approach.Here is the plate for ILS 06 at KRSWhttp://204.108.4.16/d-tpp/0907/06757IL6.PDFI believe the options for entering this approach via GPS are: VECTORS, RSW and MUFFEIf you look at the plate, you'll see where those are. As mentioned, VECTORS assumes that ATC is going to talk you right up to ILS intercept. Which pretty much means the GPS is not used for the approach.RSW is the VOR near the airport. The most likely scenario that would have you using RSW to enter the approach; would be that that was how you filed it, and how it was approved.MUFFE, in actuality, is the outer-marker. At this arirport, it's also an NBD (freq=336.0) and is ALSO the IAF (initial approach fix).Before going further into this.. I'm compelled to mention that you should have a thorough understanding of approach plates. With that knowledge, you understand what was happening here. For example. Starting the approach at the IAF means flying the procedure turn, and maintaining altitudes per the profile at the bottom of the plate. Since the outbound course is 238, then starting the approach at MUFFE coming in on a course more tha 90 degrees from 238, would mean a VERY sharp turn at MUFFE.For example: If you were coming in from the southwest, you would avail (planned and filed) the published arrival.. CORFU to RSW to MUFFE. This makes the procedure turn outbound less "sharp". Coming in from the northwest, you could fly straight to MUFFE, but that assumes you aren't too high (see the MSA circle). Depending on your filed plan (or what ATC asks of you), you might need time to lose some altitude.. so the CORFU arrival point makes sense.How this would most likely happen for real: You would have filed a flight plan to the airport, with RSW as your last waypoint, expecting the ILS 06. Several miles out, ATC would confirm this and start vectoring you (altitude and all) for a straight-in intercept of the ILS.. aimed at the outer-marker (MUFFE), with no more than a 30 degree turn to final, at MUFFE. You'd capture the ILS and land.How this would happen during real training (or sim training).. would be for ATC to, "clear you for the approach". You'd find your way to MUFFE.. fly outbound (238) for one minute (two minutes if the IAF is at the airport).. Then turn 193 and fly for one minute.. then a right-hand turn to 013.. waiting for the localizer to center.. timing your turn to 058 (final approach course)..all the while working your altitude per the profile.It sounds like you're trying to get the GPS/Autopilot to do all the work. That's fine, so long as you know what's going on and could fly the whole thing without a GPS. And ironically.. ILS approaches by GPS are more difficult. It' just as much mental work to make the GPS help you, as it is to just fly the airplane. Let's assume there's a decent wind (there always is). If YOU have been flying the approach.. you know what the wind is doing. If the autopilot has been tracking your in/oubound courses, and made the course reversal.. you're gonna have your hands full, tracking the ILS down to the runway.

Brett,I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I just wanted to say thanks for your part on the Citation X. I can't stop flying it!CraigG

My pleasure, literally :( Alejandro outdid himself on that model. I was honored to help..Another joint project of ours, is the C310.. I worked on that model for nearly a year.. he encouraged me to finish it by takin gover the ridiculuosly complex FSX texturing, and even adding a pilot (my previous C177RG had no pilot..lol)..

Thats really excellent guys, thank you for the help. I was using initially the tutorial that came with the quest Kodiak, in answer to Hardwater's question. I can see there is a lot to learn... !!!!