Thanks for the clear reply! How do you know if the glideslope indicator is active? And is this following real-life procedures?

That's quite simple. Usually a flag or bar with "GS" written. If you see this then the glide slope is inactive or unarmed i.e. obviously there is no glide slope signal. When the flag disappears then you're in business. But always be cautious beyond 15 DME because unless you are precisely positioned the glide slope signal can come and go as it is very narrow as also the localisor.Yes the correct procedure is as I have previously stated. Get your airspeed, altitude and intercept angle correct before you arrive onto the ILS and you should have a good approach.vololiberista

So it's like this:a. After tuning the radios and setting the OBS, ATC vectors me in to the rwy heading at GS int alt. NAV/GPS switch to NAV. b. The localizer centers when I turn onto the rwy hdg (press NAV to intercept loc?). c. I then wait for the GS bar to activate, and then press APP for a hands-free approach Is that it? :biggrin:In case y'all are wondering, I've looked up navfltsm.addr.com, as per your suggestions. It's a good site, but IMHO the actual step-by-step lesson gets lost under all the jargon. Now, I am a complete novice when it comes to IFR navigation (how does backcourse work?), so please bear with me. :blush:I also had another question. I loaded an IFR flight plan direct GPS from KHWD to KSTS at 4000 ft. Right after I took off, however, ATC is already telling me that I am "59 miles south...turn right heading 350, climb and maintain 4000, expect vectors ILS Rwy 32 approach" (Not exact, but along those lines). Is this an inherent bug in ATC, or can ATC REALLY reach that far? I wasn't even out of KHWD airspace yet when ATC starts vectoring me! :(

That's quite simple. Usually a flag or bar with "GS" written. If you see this then the glide slope is inactive or unarmed i.e. obviously there is no glide slope signal. When the flag disappears then you're in business. But always be cautious beyond 15 DME because unless you are precisely positioned the glide slope signal can come and go as it is very narrow as also the localisor.Yes the correct procedure is as I have previously stated. Get your airspeed, altitude and intercept angle correct before you arrive onto the ILS and you should have a good approach.vololiberista

So it's like this:a. After tuning the radios and setting the OBS, ATC vectors me in to the rwy heading at GS int alt. NAV/GPS switch to NAV. b. The localizer centers when I turn onto the rwy hdg (press NAV to intercept loc?). c. I then wait for the GS bar to activate, and then press APP for a hands-free approach Is that it? :biggrin:In case y'all are wondering, I've looked up navfltsm.addr.com, as per your suggestions. It's a good site, but IMHO the actual step-by-step lesson gets lost under all the jargon. Now, I am a complete novice when it comes to IFR navigation (how does backcourse work?), so please bear with me. :blush:I also had another question. I loaded an IFR flight plan direct GPS from KHWD to KSTS at 4000 ft. Right after I took off, however, ATC is already telling me that I am "59 miles south...turn right heading 350, climb and maintain 4000, expect vectors ILS Rwy 32 approach" (Not exact, but along those lines). Is this an inherent bug in ATC, or can ATC REALLY reach that far? I wasn't even out of KHWD airspace yet when ATC starts vectoring me! :(

a. Correct!b. If the AP is armed and you have selected NAV that "IT" will turn the a/c onto the localisor.c. Correct!How far are the aiports apart from each other? the default ATC has many problems and without a properly prepared flight plan (which itself causes problems) ATC has to make guess!vololiberista

According to skyvector, KHWD and KSTS are 60.6 nm apart.What do you mean by "that IT"?

a. Correct!b. If the AP is armed and you have selected NAV that "IT" will turn the a/c onto the localisor.c. Correct!How far are the aiports apart from each other? the default ATC has many problems and without a properly prepared flight plan (which itself causes problems) ATC has to make guess!vololiberista

According to skyvector, KHWD and KSTS are 60.6 nm apart.What do you mean by "that IT"?

Simply that the AP will turn the aircraft to the tuned NAV localizer. Not really clearly stated, but read the context of the message and you can figure it out.Jim D.

According to skyvector, KHWD and KSTS are 60.6 nm apart.What do you mean by "that IT"?

b. If the AP is armed and you have selected NAV that "IT" (the autopilot) will turn the a/c onto the localisor.In the context of an English sentence the "it" in the above refers to the autopilot.As regards your origin and destination airports they do seem rather too close which is what I suspected as to why your ATC vectored you immediately after take-off.vololiberista

OK. The sentence was just unclear that's all.

b. If the AP is armed and you have selected NAV that "IT" (the autopilot) will turn the a/c onto the localisor.In the context of an English sentence the "it" in the above refers to the autopilot.As regards your origin and destination airports they do seem rather too close which is what I suspected as to why your ATC vectored you immediately after take-off.vololiberista

Thanks a lot for the help guys! I just flew from KSYR to KSCH in a DC-3. Tuned in the radios, ATC vectored me in to a smooth, crisp ILS approach to rwy 04 (with the AP's help, of course). Thanks again! :smile:Please leave this forum open for discussion and for other questions other members might have.

Instead of pressing NAV and then APP, couldn't I just press APP when I'm aligned with the runway? B/c if I got my facts straight, I think APP both lines up the localizer AND the glideslope for you. And BTW, I'm planning on making a tutoiral for this. How do you make a tutorial for the forums (how do you take screenshots in FS9)?

Thanks a lot for the help guys! I just flew from KSYR to KSCH in a DC-3. Tuned in the radios, ATC vectored me in to a smooth, crisp ILS approach to rwy 04 (with the AP's help, of course). Thanks again! :smile:Please leave this forum open for discussion and for other questions other members might have.

Instead of pressing NAV and then APP, couldn't I just press APP when I'm aligned with the runway? B/c if I got my facts straight, I think APP both lines up the localizer AND the glideslope for you. And BTW, I'm planning on making a tutoiral for this. How do you make a tutorial for the forums (how do you take screenshots in FS9)?

Yes. But make sure you are beneath the G/S when you select APP otherwise you will have to chase it to capture it from above. Not recommended for the inexperienced!Colin B

Yes. But make sure you are beneath the G/S when you select APP otherwise you will have to chase it to capture it from above. Not recommended for the inexperienced!Colin B

Both your loc bar "AND" your GS bar must be active "AND" your a/c MUST be below the glide slope before you select APP.vololiberista

Alright. In a nutshell, what is the difference between the 3 categories of ILS (CAT I, CAT II, CAT III)?

Yes. But make sure you are beneath the G/S when you select APP otherwise you will have to chase it to capture it from above. Not recommended for the inexperienced!Colin B

Both your loc bar "AND" your GS bar must be active "AND" your a/c MUST be below the glide slope before you select APP.vololiberista

Neither the LOC nor G/S needs to be active before you select APP. You must be receiving it and you should be on an intercept heading and below G/S before selecting APP. In RW, we usually selected APP when on intercept heading and providing we were below G/S almost always before it became active, (G/S pointer became active). If you have planned and carried out an approach correctly, it is no problem.Maybe your company has different procedures.Colin B

I don't fly IRL, so I wouldn't know about company procedures :(. BTW, pardon the dumb question but what does RW stand for?

Neither the LOC nor G/S needs to be active before you select APP. You must be receiving it and you should be on an intercept heading and below G/S before selecting APP. In RW, we usually selected APP when on intercept heading and providing we were below G/S almost always before it became active, (G/S pointer became active). If you have planned and carried out an approach correctly, it is no problem.Maybe your company has different procedures.Colin B

Alright. In a nutshell, what is the difference between the 3 categories of ILS (CAT I, CAT II, CAT III)?

The "only" difference between CAT I, II and III is Minimums. In general, at least here in Canada, CAT I gives 200ft AGL, CATII between 200ft and 100ft and CAT III is basically autoland.When you get you IFR License (IRL of course) you can only shoot CAT Iregards,Igor