Is there a way to modify airport ils. It seems apparent that a full cat iii ils is possible at all (or most) airports simply by tuning in to the ils radio frequency.However we know that not all airports have that facility. I was wondering if it is possible to change fsx to reflect this. Therefore removing the temptation to use it in difficult situations etc.Of course you can just not use it but I was curious to know more about this.ThanksTom

Although it is now 5 years old, FSX already has a very detailed database of approaches, as in what is and isn't available at certain airports. For example, if you go to EGLL, you will see, and test if you so wish, that most runways are equipped with an ILS. However, should you turn up at a small GA airfield in central Washington state, you should find that it definitely does not have any instrument landing guidence at all! From CAT III ILS, though to CAT I and DME only approaches etc. you will also find that FSX actually models the different variations well, and even not at all where one does not exist in the real world.As I say, this FSX database is now 5 years out of date, but for most major airports, AFCAD updates have been published here for free on AVSim, and on FlightSim.com file libraries.You can, although unrealistically, try to autoland a default aircraft by flying any of these instrument approach methods on autopilot. You should note however that as autoland is not installed in any default aircraft, and most landings will be hard (without any flare). For autoland under CAT III, why not purchase one of the awesome PMDG aircraft, which offer the full systems working exactly as on the real aircraft (including all realworld autopilot functions, full autoland with autothrottle etc.). Also, I don't believe that they will autoland on only a CAT I ILS approach, but I haven't attempted this in some time and so cannot be sure... To the best of my knowledge, ILS approaches / VOR DME etc. are part of the AFCAD file for any given airport. This means that within an AFCAD editing program, like ADE, you have the option to not only modify current approaches and approach types, but also to add new ones or delete completely any approaches you don't want.If any part of this doesn't apply to your question, feel free to ignore it :biggrin:I hope this has helped :(

Thanks for the info, however already own a number of payware addons namely the pmdg md11 etc.I was under the impression that fsx made no distinction between ils types for all airports I.e. A full cat iii ils was available pretty well anywhere. But this was only an assumption.The example i was thinking of is egjj (jersey). I'm pretty sure it does not have a cat iii autoland facility based on the fact that fog often stops flights (this view has come from my girlfriend who has worked as a despatcher who knew only too well the upset to flights)Anyway in fsxit is possible to autoland with rollout and flare etc and I am not so sure the realworld has this facility.(my knowledge of ils isn't the best but this is my interpretation of this situation)Anyway I think it is possible to identify the type of landing systemin say airport design editor but I don't know whether this is reflected in the sim.ThanksTom

Checking in my (a little outdated) 2008 UK VFR Flight Guide, it shows only that Jersey EGJJ does have an ILS system. To what extent it does not make clear, however a little googling for charts makes it clear that the system that should be in place is a basic ILS DME system, cabable of CAT I operations only (which would explain the fog closures...).Checking on my installed FS Commander addon, which reads the fsx airport and navigation database among other things, it shows that in my copy of FSX, EGJJ is fitted with indeed an ILS DME system, however the CAT rating is not clear and will require further investigating...When I get a chance, I'll open up ADE and have a look. You might be right where that is concerned but I'm almost sure I've seen something in sim to tell me that CAT is modeled. I am 100% sure however that FSX can make full use of the differences between just DME or just ILS systems, LOC DME services, and full ILS DME equipment, should it make any difference...Kind Regards

I think the only difference between a CAT III and any other ILS, as far as flight sim is concerned, is the approach lighting and possible inner marker, which FSX does model for the most part. Most of the things required for CAT III aren't visible in the sim world, such as standby transmitters, near-field monitors, etc. since nothing on the ground ever breaks.scott s..

Don't forget that among the requirements for CATIII is current crew certification/proficency...It would be a bit tough to model that in the sim... :(

The easiest way to accomplish what you are asking is to simply Not tune your nav1 radio to the ILS frequency.

An aircraft landing via autoland is a function of the pilot utilizing the autopilot to perform an autoland. Just because you can push the button, doesn't mean the airport has a CAT III ILS approach. The aircraft doesn't know whether there's a CAT III ILS in place or not. There is nothing in FS that indicates CAT I, CAT II or CAT III with regards to ILS equipment at an airport.

An aircraft landing via autoland is a function of the pilot utilizing the autopilot to perform an autoland. Just because you can push the button, doesn't mean the airport has a CAT III ILS approach. The aircraft doesn't know whether there's a CAT III ILS in place or not. There is nothing in FS that indicates CAT I, CAT II or CAT III with regards to ILS equipment at an airport.

If you pull up the ILS on the map, the name should say which CAT.scott s..

If you pull up the ILS on the map, the name should say which CAT.scott s..

And yet I go to EGJJ, the airport the OP is complaining about making CAT III landings at... and there is no CAT III ILS definition. I'll go even further and point out the aircraft's autoland capability hasn't got a clue whether there is or is not a CAT III ILS installed at a given airport. I own the Level-D 767 and I've never seen it refuse to autoland on any ILS approach. Navigraph navdata, of which a great deal of the addons use for current data, doesn't have anything in it's approach data to indicate whether or not an approach is a CAT I, CAT II or CAT III. The aircraft really don't know. It's up to the pilot to know, by checking the approach plates. If a CAT III autoland is allowed at an airport, there will be a plate specifically for such an approach.I'll also restate... there's nothing in FS that tells the aircraft if there's a CAT III ILS approach. You'd be surprised how much information from the FS database isn't available for use in addons.

And yet I go to EGJJ, the airport the OP is complaining about making CAT III landings at... and there is no CAT III ILS definition. I'll go even further and point out the aircraft's autoland capability hasn't got a clue whether there is or is not a CAT III ILS installed at a given airport. I own the Level-D 767 and I've never seen it refuse to autoland on any ILS approach. Navigraph navdata, of which a great deal of the addons use for current data, doesn't have anything in it's approach data to indicate whether or not an approach is a CAT I, CAT II or CAT III. The aircraft really don't know. It's up to the pilot to know, by checking the approach plates. If a CAT III autoland is allowed at an airport, there will be a plate specifically for such an approach.I'll also restate... there's nothing in FS that tells the aircraft if there's a CAT III ILS approach. You'd be surprised how much information from the FS database isn't available for use in addons.

This is precisely my point :) - Athough i wouldnt say i was complaining lol.As suggested above i can just simply not tune to the ILS frequency to ignore the autoland, but it would have been nice to have the variety of options. I suppose that is room for an update. An ATC addon that can provide a difference between these methods based on the weather and reflect this in the ATC chatter.Tom

This is precisely my point :) - Athough i wouldnt say i was complaining lol.As suggested above i can just simply not tune to the ILS frequency to ignore the autoland, but it would have been nice to have the variety of options. I suppose that is room for an update. An ATC addon that can provide a difference between these methods based on the weather and reflect this in the ATC chatter.Tom

You do realize that this is exactly how it is in real life? The pilot is responsible to know whether or not a CAT III ILS approach exists for the airport/runway in question. The pilot is responsible for adherence to regulations regarding the use of a CAT III ILS approach.In short, your aircraft isn't going to do a CAT III ILS approach unless you, the pilot, choose to allow it. The only part of the approach that makes it a CAT III is a reduced decision height/visual range requirement and if it's being landed by the autopilot it's a CAT IIIb.