I've gotten ok at descent with the airbus extended, my problem now is getting low enough in time to capture the localizer, I never seem to descend fast enough at the last part of the flight, am I turning on approach phase too early? Does that change how you descend? By the way I also use RC4, if that means anything.

I fly with RC4 and never have problems getting the aircraft down in time for ILS capture. One of the things that RC4 does is require you to cross the 40 mile destination perimeter at 11,000 feet for a near side approach or 12,000 for a far side approach. Are you making those? When RC4 tells you during the descent phase at pilot's discretion to reduce altitude to 16,000, for instance, there really is not much room for discretion. I get there as quick as possible because they usually give 30 miles to get to the 11,000 or 12,000 altitude AND cross that 40 mile line at or below 250 KIAS. From then on RC4 will continue to vector you towards the localizer. With RC4 I usually have to increase descent rate considerably to meet those goals. I have only flown B737-800 and B777-300 with RC4.

As for when to activate the approach phase, that is usually done when Control has vectored you onto the final turn to intercept the localizer. When the localizer indicator begins moving toward the center that's when you hit the button. Unfortunately, this is a little late and will cause the plane to fly past the localizer, resulting in several oscillations back and forth until the plane settles on the localizer. What I usually do is use the Garmin 500 and load the approach in that. With the approach selected and loaded, but not activated, you will actually see a line extend from the runway, and the end of the line (away from the runway) is what you are aiming for. On your final turn to intercept when you see that line just about to point at your airplane symbol is a good time to hit the approach button.

 

Good luck

 

Hal