I have noticed a phenomenon which happens regularly on approach.About 40 miles from the arrival airport, After being assigned a landing runway, I'm given a vector which is roughly 30 degrees offset to the runway. That way, I'm supposed to intercept the localizer at a managable angle. Fine.I usually fly the heavies, which means my speed at that point, 40 miles away is 180-200kt.Now, correct me if I'm wrong, the localizer beam extends to about 22nm before the runway. And so, I find myself flying the assigned vector, and going past the end of the beam, and missing it altogether.I have to change heading so I can intercept the localizer, based on what I see on the ND.Example- RWY22L at KBOS. I'm coming in from the north east. About 40 miles from KBOS, I'm told to fly heading 245 until the intercept.Well, at that distance and that angle, I'm going to miss the localizer. With the LOC pressed on the MCP, there's no way capture will occur.So am I missing something here?Eytan

this happens in what i call near-straight on approaches.watch the rc display. watch your fmc, watch your moving map, what ever is comfortable.when the bearing to the airport is the same as the runway heading, turn to the runway heading.when the localizer comes alive, adjust left or right to center the localizer. then wait for the glideslopejd

So I guess it's my responsiblity as pilot to fly into the end of the loc beam as I see fit.What happens in real world aviation in approaches?Eytan

>>So I guess it's my responsiblity as pilot to fly into the end>of the loc beam as I see fit.>What happens in real world aviation in approaches?>EytanI don't fly heavies in real life, just little planes, but they give you vectors closer to the final approach fix at least in my experience. I'm usually about 5-8 miles from the marker when I'm given my vector to join.I haven't ever had this problem in RC that you're experiencing though I don't believe. I'm usually about 15-20 miles out, 10-15 miles from the FAF typically when I get my vector to join the final.

depends on the msa of the field as well.the msa is only an approximation of what it might be. you may have to adjust it on the controller's screenalso, keep in mind, that these vectors have to work at over 20,000+ airports, so they are a little more generous than real lifejd

I've had this happen too, no big deal with the appropriate instruments... It isn't just RC that does this - I had the FS9 ATC clear me for the ILS some 60 miles from KDFW; same thing, a relatively straight in approach.DJ