Hello folks,

After reading and watching these threads for quite some time, I'm really embarassed to ask for help.

 

In any event, at this phase of learning the "NGX", I'm flying/enjoying like I would a default FSX 737. At this time I only use the FMC to open doors etc., and not program a flight - that hopefully is coming.

 

On my standard (newby) flights, IFR, when I get the runway assigned by ATC, - I then put in the Nav 1 freq and Course. As example for KATL, they assigned me RW8L, 109.3, Cs 93, which I entered. About 20 miles out I saw the gs come alive. When ATC called and said so and so, localiser, so and so, I clicked approach. (I was below gs) - WELL, immediately upon clicking Appr on ap, the course changes to 95, not 93, thus I did get the approach. I immediately turned off AP, Appr, reset Course to 93, turned AP back on, clicked Appr, and again the course reverted to 95. Me had to land manually, which I did safely.

 

What in the world am I doing wrong. I know this has worked before with the NGX. I tried several other short flights to different airports and got the same results with the Course changing and missing the approach.

 

Your help with my "newby" question would be highly appreciated - need to move on -

Have a blessed one.

cthiggin

You are not doing anything wrong. The aircraft is setting the 095 course based on the nav data it has installed on the FMC. Magnetic runway headings change along the years, thus this database gets updated frequently to reflect these and many more changes. Using updated charts and FMC data along with the latest scenery will make everything work seamlessly.

 

Thing is, FSX airport data is very old and many runways now have a different course than the one listed in the FMC airac databases.

Yes, the Ngx automatically sets the correct ils course. You can turn this feature off, but I'd recommend leaving it on, in order to ensure that the localizer is tracked correctly.

Alfredo: well, partially true. NGX can also be set to input course from FSX database rather than real-based navdata, thus guaranteeing a successfull approach on any set of simulator data.

Thanks gentlemen,

FOR NOW, how do I turn this feature off / or / set NGC to input the course from FSX database. At this point, I am flying and learning the NGX - I will move forward with the tutorials and "learn the NGX the correct way".

Thanks again and have a blessed day. cthiggin

Thanks gentlemen,

FOR NOW, how do I turn this feature off / or / set NGC to input the course from FSX database. At this point, I am flying and learning the NGX - I will move forward with the tutorials and "learn the NGX the correct way".

Thanks again and have a blessed day. cthiggin

 

Tim

 

Look at page 0.00.72 in the NGX Introduction document.

 

Michael Cubine

pcubine,

I read that segment - went to the "Simulation" in FMC and the first section Yes/No for follow FSX localiser course was checked "yes". I assume you meant this area? - If so, then it is set to ignore FMC and use the fsx course/nav1 ILS?

Thanks so much. Hopefully I'll get this how I want it for now. Just phase 1 until I can move forward the "real way".

Thanks and have a blessed day. cthiggin

Alfredo: well, partially true. NGX can also be set to input course from FSX database rather than real-based navdata, thus guaranteeing a successfull approach on any set of simulator data.

If you turn the feature off the course has to be manually set, as in the real aircraft. The only help you get is the ILS course shown on the approach ref page.

Alfredo: well, partially true. NGX can also be set to input course from FSX database rather than real-based navdata, thus guaranteeing a successfull approach on any set of simulator data.

Yes, sorry I made a mistake. The Ngx does set the FSX course, as it can vary from real life charts.

Gentlemen,

As I understand your threads, this area should be turned to ON ???? If so, mine "was set to ON" and I am having the problem with the course being changed on me......and "if" I turn it off, I'm done for as far as ILS/approach?

I'm really not this "slow", just trying to understand the NGX. Thanks so very very much. cthiggin

Gentlemen,

As I understand your threads, this area should be turned to ON ???? If so, mine "was set to ON" and I am having the problem with the course being changed on me......and "if" I turn it off, I'm done for as far as ILS/approach?

I'm really not this "slow", just trying to understand the NGX. Thanks so very very much. cthiggin

If you turn it off you can still fly ils approaches. The only problem is that, if the FSX course varies too greatly from the course found on real-world approach charts, the Ngx might track the localizer incorrectly. This is why I personally leave it on, set my course manually, just for realism's sake, and then the plane changes the course automatically on the approach without me even realizing it.

There are actually two issues in play here. As Nuno mentioned in Post #2 the magnetic headings of the runways have changed due to magnetic variation progression since FSX programmed the AFCADS. The database in NGX is more current and will often differ from FSX which is fixed in time. The other issue is that Aces apparently used some time of automatic code generator to fix the ILS courses to the runways and in most cases one of more will be off by 1/2 degree from the actual magnetic heading of runway. Granted there are some ILS courses that are DELIBERATELY set off course but what I am referring to is plain inaccurate programming of the AFCAD. These can be fixed by using a program such as ADE which allows you to correct the ILS course to lineup with the centerline ( if the RW charts confirm that it should).

 

That still will not address the first issue. The easiest way to do that is to first manually place a default aircraft at the start position of the runway in question (before you actually set up the flight, of course) and note the magnetic heading of the aircraft. This should be the "course" setting you will need to use for the ILS for that runway (provided it is centerline oriented according to the RW charts, of course). I then note the corrected FSX course on my approach plates for that airport for future reference. Now keep the automatic course setting option in the FMS setup to "OFF". Then, during the actual flight, when cleared to intercept the localizer by ATC, just manually set that correct course according to what you had determined beforehand and NGX will intercept it and fly it right down to centerline, even automatically if you so desire as a Newbee.

 

My technique does involve some time to tweak the airports you intend to use, but the good thing is that once tweaked they will remain that way in perpetuity since FSX is forever locked in time!

 

There are, of course, two other alternatives that many are using. One is to download the latest AFCAD for the airports you are using or purchase a recently published scenery set for the area that contains the airport (and hope they coded the Localizer headings correctly). The other alternative is to leave them just as they are and just manually fly the aircraft once the runway is in sight. This will take some skill because it will involve close-in maneuvering close to the ground but this would be required skill for most non-precision approaches that we fly in RW, anyway.

HiFly,

Boy, that overview made a lot of sense to this newby...Will do as instructed by all and put this issue to bed. Thanks so very much fellows for taking the time to help with my issue.

All have a blessed one. cthiggin

Thanks so much folks - works like a charm. Have a blessed one. cthiggin

this is a good place to post my question.

 

Usually I fly being vectored with traffic at 100% and land by hand keeps me on my toes, however after buying v routes planner I loaded it and the legs were in the fmc, I took off and got vectored and canceeled IFR at TOC... all went well until would not capture the ILS even though hdg and frequency double checked

 

so I disengaged the A/P including auto throttle and the 737 throttles started id;ling back and the speed came back to stall

 

I reengaged the a/p and got back to finals and disengaged the A/P but then the speed would not go lower than 200kts

 

why did the A/P not disengage when I turned it off when in nav mode?

 

(excuse the font change unintended)