ILS Approach help?

Question

I'm trying to make ILS approaches, you know the ones where the plane aligns itself with the runway. In a 738 I tuned NAV1 to the runway's ILS frequency but the plane didn't align itself, how do I "activate" it?

Answer 1

In addition to what the guys have answered above, make sure that your course is set to the runway heading.

Also, try to fly the a/c into a 30 degree intercept into the runway centreline.

Answer 2

You need to Ident the Nav 1. If you just put in the frequency it doesn't work. At the bottom of the radio control on the 737 there are little white buttons and you need to click on the white one that says NAV 1 so it will work. You will hear the moors code identifier.

       Then you're not done. Where the auto pilot is you need to punch in the heading for the ILS into the auto heading. Then you need to take it off heading hold mode and click the approach hold mode. That should do it.

       By the way, ILS isn't just planes getting guided in automatically. Some planes have the technology to be guided in automatically, but when you learn in a Cessna you will be hand-flying it.

Answer 3

Press the "APP" button on the autopilot panel and activate the autopilot.

Answer 4

I'm assuming flight sim...  

Make sure the auto pilot is on, make sure the switch is on NAV not GPS, make sure the A/P is set to Approach (and not loc back course either) not heading and altitude.  If that doesn't work you're probably not getting the proper transition.  In that case, follow ATC's vectors and when they give the "N12345 15 miles from the outer marker, fly heading x*x maintain..."  set up the approach as I've said while making sure you have the proper ILS freq in the nav 1 selector.

The auto approach will terminate at some AGL altitude, not sure what, maybe CAT II type minimums, not sure since I normally hand fly.  Just be aware it won't auto land, you'll have to terminate the auto pilot and land it yourself at some point.  Otherwise you'll spool up and go missed.

Answer 5

Just to clarify something, an ILS is an electronic extension of the runway centerline.  The airplane will not seek out that path completely on its own.  You have to tune in the ILS frequency AND set your course selector (OBS) to the proper inbound course.  You then need to put the plane on a heading that will intercept the centerline, usually by selecting "heading" mode with "approach" mode armed.  The approach mode will activate once the airplane starts to intercept the ILS localizer course.  Does that make sense?  It's not just a matter of tuning the ILS frequency and having the airplane find the course.

Answer 6

You must set the AP CMD to engage and the APP as well.  There is a green marker on the right side of your glide screen that goes in a vertical motion, you must set the APP before it reaches the middle of the screen.  This typically happens after about 2 miles when you enter the glide path.  Do not engage the APP before entering the glide path otherwise it throws you off because the computer thinks you are in the wrong place.  This is what I know so someone correct me, I'm still having problems with this.  2 missed but 1 successful landing on a CAT III auto land.

Answer 7

Why are you wanting the plane to align itself?  

Try this simulation:  you're a pilot who is piloting the plane during the approach.