oneirish

UPDATE - In the link posted to the POH, see "Automatic Flight" Section 6-03 for an excellent and complete walk through of the 100's ILS and automated flight procedures. This section is about halfway through the POH.

Good grief - I've always known if you want to be sure to find ways NOT to enjoy anything, read a forum. But I appreciate those more experienced than I who just want it as realistic as possible. Just a big thanks to Bilbo and a few others who posted truly helpful info for us non-pilots, technicians etc who are using and enjoying the hell out of the Phenom. The info spared me a lot of time grasping the FADEC, FMC and FLCH, etc. I'm never going to own this actual aircraft so for $40 I'm very happy to have what I think is a hugely fun example of it and having used Flight Sim since version 5, I haven't really found aircraft that look and behave better than Carenado. Then again, not a pilot. Just added ForeFlight and FSWidgets etc for charts and mapping - makes this even more fun to tap in a quick Flight Plan on my iPad and fly it. Amazing what has become available for FS and X-Plane now. I will say the Phenom seems to take massive power to get rolling and is "lively" on the stick on approach but amazing low-speed handling. (Bilbo - I well recall Falcon 3.0 and mastering that original jumbo manual - good times! I had friends based at Shaw AFB then flying the real thing who came over just to grin and zoom it around. Longbow too. Outstanding. Thanks again!)

This is a difficult aircraft to start learning ILS and approach with I think. Basically - as far as I have been able to determine, enter the ILS frequency for the runway you will be approaching in NAV1 (or 2, just be sure that's the active NAV radio). You should hear the morse code identifier. Looking at a sectional map of the airport you'll see an elongated V shaped path extending out from the end of the runway(s) you selected to land on. If you fly into this area, with Flight Director and Auto Pilot enabled, AND the corresponding ILS NAV frequency set and active in the NAV computer,with the CDI button on the pilot MFD set to "ILS" --just PRESS the APR or Approach key on the AFCS Control Unit (the Autopilot buttons, APR is next to the Heading knob). The autopilot should take control and you'll see the jet bank to meet the center of the runway approach. NOTE - this example does NOT control throttle! I haven't learned that quite yet - so unless you know you'll need to control your speed. But this should bring you right to the runway. This is my own very crude, quick and dirty example - just figured out by trying. I am sure there are way better examples and actual pilots are groaning. I have successfully captured the ILS and gone right down to the center line. I have yet to learn auto-throttle, FADEC and how the FMC acts on this aircraft. Carenado gives you precious little info with this jet. I think you can actually enter your flight plan into the FMC and the engines will completely control themselves from takeoff to landing but not sure that works yet. Note it is much easier to accomplish and ILS approach with glideslope in a slower, much less advanced aircraft like the C152 with the glass Garmin upgrade, Using that I have managed numerous hands-off until flare landings at KSEA, etc. To really learn and enjoy this you just need to dive into ILS and how it works. I'm sure Google has tons of examples - invest in something like FSWidgets so you can get good moving maps and sectionals or Foreflight etc. It adds hugely to the enjoyment and flight planning. You'll find ILS frequencies and approaches, departures on the maps and plates for each airport. The POH (thanks to Gregg for link): http://www.jslogbook.com/logbook/admin/pdfManuals/POH-2761-02-REV06-FULL-VOLUME01.pdf

There is so little info included with this extremely advanced aircraft - I really expected something more substantial too. Thanks to Gregg for the POH and other links!!