A strong tailwind will make the aircraft overshoot the profile if you do not enter the winds into the FMC. Remember: sh**t in, sh**t out. That's how computers work

 

As for finding the forecast winds at different levels, you can use realworld weather charts ( http://aviationweather.gov/iffdp/fdwndc ) or a planning software like PFPX. 

 

Hope this helps. 

 

PS: A note about the wind charts if you are unfamiliar with them. The numbers around the map isn't the wind in knots but rather the air temperature at the given FL. The wind speed is indicated by the barbs. 

 

One barb: 10 knots

 

One half barb: 5 knots

 

Solid triangular barb: 50 knots

 

I work with PFPX and ASN so i'll try and enter winds next time if its a tailwind when descending!

 

Thanks for the link looks a bit hard to understand. How do you know what way the wind is going by the symbol?

Hi guys 109.15 worked for me but it wouldn't let me engage vor/loc or app instead it held vnav and lnav and on the FMA it read FAC and G/P

 

Think it has to do something with the type of approach - ILS+DME also it has LOC+DME

Guys found this from ryan this is why i was getting FAC and G/P because the ILS freq i was using 109.15 was invalid? But why have it on the charts? Can you guys confirm the ILS freq is 109.9 as stated from MIKE777?

 

NAV1 and 2 have nothing to do with it actually - IAN works completely off the FMC. If you have an approach loaded and are not receiving a valid radio navaid signal, it will default to using IAN. FAC (final approach course) is the roll mode and G/P (glidepath) is the pitch mode. It's like an ILS but created "virtually" by the FMC. You can fly hybrid approaches too (try the LLZ 27 at KSAN for instance) where the lateral mode is VOR/LOC but the vertical mode is G/P because there is no glideslope on that approach, it's localizer only. You can fly ILS backcourses with IAN as well, something the NG can't normally do without it.

So, the ILS frequencies are mis-matched. The ILS plate shows 109.15 and FSX shows 109.9 so how does one update FSX? Or is 109.15 the one that is out of date?

 

 

How do you know what way the wind is going by the symbol?

 

Think of the barbs as the feathers on the back of the arrow shot from a bow. The wind blows the same direction as the arrow goes.

 

Also, difficult to be very accurate with the charts. Most of the time you have to extrapolate between two locations. Just remember, you don't need to enter exactly 256/52 into the FMC.....  250/50 or 260/50 is good enough. 

The FSX ILS data is from 2006. If current charts show a different frequency, that is most likely the correct one in 2014

The FSX ILS data is from 2006. If current charts show a different frequency, that is most likely the correct one in 2014

I have navigraph it showed 109.15 so when tuning that into nav 1 it didn't recognise that freq so my FMC done the landing for me and on the FMA it read FAC and G/P

 

 

So, the ILS frequencies are mis-matched. The ILS plate shows 109.15 and FSX shows 109.9 so how does one update FSX? Or is 109.15 the one that is out of date?

 

This location appears to be up-to-date for Irish airports:

http://www.iaa.ie/safe_reg/iaip/Frame1.htm

 

I looked around for an up-to-date free AFCAD or scenery file at AVSIM.com and Flightsim.com, but I haven't found one. 

 

There may be payware available for Cork.

 

It is possible to edit the stock airports, certainly including ILS frequencies, courses and identifiers, using Airport Design Editor available here:

http://www.scruffyduck.org.uk/ade/

 

 

This excellent free program takes some time to learn to use.

 

Mike