I usually approach using RNAV, anyone know real life, % of various approaches in 737???....newbie

i think in real life 99% of the approaches flown will be ILS approaches, or ILS assisted visual approaches... VOR/NDB is very uncommon, visual should be the second biggest heap. RNAV is gradually being phased in more and more.but for sure, ILS, more than 90% approaches... (for commercial jet airliners)

Second that. E. g. my (major) aerodrome here, the only time they would offer VOR or other "downgraded" approaches were during ILS maintenance for example. Even RNAV serves as an ILS backup very often, so in general ILS is the #1 choice as long as it's available. During daytime VMC though, many get cleared a visual so as to increase density on final even further. I think they have about 2 or 2.5 mile seperation IIRC (on parallel dependent runways though). However, for example at night they tend to use new RNAV procs that sort of fly around noise afflicted areas with a few shallow turns, trying to avoid them a bit.

Where available,order of preference:

1. ILS
2. GNSS Arrival
3. VOR/DME (Visual if available)
4. T-NDB/NDB

Letdowns can either be RNAV or Aid-Based routes Regards

90% of the time approaches are visual. They are easier to do and are more efficient. At PHX for example, 350 days out of the year visual approaches are in use. Even at night. Whether the pilot decides to back the visual with an IAP is up to them.

You need to ensure you think outside the square a bit and realise that every runway does not necessarily have an ILS. For example, YMML (Melbourne, Australia) does not have an ILS on RWY 34, so a VOR approach is frequently flown, or an RNAV. RWY 09 is also the same. I am sure YMML isn't the only airport in this situation. While an NDB approach for an airliner would be a bit unusual, a VOR approach may be a little more common than one would realise. That said, unless a visual approach is available, if an ILS is then that will be the first choice barring other outside factors.

i think in real life 99% of the approaches flown will be ILS approaches, or ILS assisted visual approaches... VOR/NDB is very uncommon, visual should be the second biggest heap. RNAV is gradually being phased in more and more.but for sure, ILS, more than 90% approaches... (for commercial jet airliners)

Say again? I work air traffic at a small class D airport in USA. About 80% of our traffic gets a visual (commercial/regional/military/GA).

Same here. I work at a regional TWR in Sweden. If the weather allows it and no other traffic is in the way we always aim for a visual. Saves both time and fuel for the airline company and we get rid of them faster :)

Where available,order of preference:

1. ILS
2. GNSS Arrival
3. VOR/DME (Visual if available)
4. T-NDB/NDB

If the airport has PAR that would probably be in 1.1 or 2.2 if ILS is down in IMC.

Honestly I don't think anyone can give even an estimated guess on percentages. Approaches come down to not only weather, but airspace design. For example, at KLAS, 98% of our approaches are visual simply because we are VMC 364 days a year, and because of the terrain aircraft are usually close into the airport, even at high altitude allowing for easy sight of the field. However, go to LAX and you'll see that most of their approaches will be ILS because they are cleared about 30 - 40 miles out. RNAV (RNP) is catching on, but at a slow pace.

Yeah, I was about to say, a lot of the guys here commenting don't seem to have much experience outside the sim. Even at Dulles (mid-east coast) where we have clouds all the time, it's primarily visual. Sure, pilots will plug in the ILS info so that the plane will line them up on the LOC (controllers frequently have pilots intercept the LOC to put them all in trail for visuals), but it's still a visual approach. Ryan and Jeremy are ATC, and their posts are on point. Dan's is as well (and note his credentials, too). I got relegated to ATC wannabe because I didn't get picked up in the last PUBNAT, but I talk shop with all of my ATC friends and fly, so I have at least some clue. It's a complete sim-ism to think:1 - You shoot an ILS most of the time; and2 - The plane lands for you most of the time

Lol....this reminds me of a question that many simmers and PC controllers get wrong all the time: In the United States (because I don't know about other countries) does the pilot have to have the airport in sight to be cleared for a visual approach?

Lol....this reminds me of a question that many simmers and PC controllers get wrong all the time: In the United States (because I don't know about other countries) does the pilot have to have the airport in sight to be cleared for a visual approach?

One has to distinguish between the so called "charted visual approaches" and other visual approaches. For the former you definitely don't have to have airport in sight.

One has to distinguish between the so called "charted visual approaches" and other visual approaches. For the former you definitely don't have to have airport in sight.

Charted or not a visual approach is a visual approach....close.

With the NGX, if there is an RNP approach available, I am going to take it. I love flying those things. Wish more airports had them.