VOR and ILS approaches (entering the traffic pattern)

[Wyatt 0]

I love flying IFRs especially the VOR approaches, but do you enter traffic pattern like you would on the 90^o traffic pattern entry in a VFR approach?

[allardjd 1,853]

Wyatt,

In FS you typically are vectored to the localizer (ILS horizontal component) by ATC, though you do have the option to fly the "full procedure" if you have the charts and the patience. That closely follows real-world practice.

They will normally bring you to it at any angle less than 90 degrees, depending upon your direction of flight relative to the airport, but if greater than 45 degrees they will normally give you an intercepting turn toward it as you get within a mile or two of the localizer. That will make your final turn to intercept the localizer 45 degrees or less.

As you begin the final vectored turn toward the localizer you'll hear something along the lines of....

"The airport is one-one miles at your 10 o'clock. Turn heading one five zero (localizer heading) and intercept the localizer. Maintain two thousand two hundred until established on the localizer. Contact tower on one one two point seven five."

All that normally happens well outside the Outer Marker and/or the glide slope intercept point, which are usually co-located, or at least pretty close together. If terrain isn't a factor, you'll be level at an ATC assigned altitude approximately 2,000' AGL. You usually have plenty of time to get stable on the localizer and get the AC configured for landing before reaching the GS intercept and starting down. The glide slope intercept will be approximately six miles from the threshold and is typically 3 degrees.

John

[Tim_A 996]

No. They are entirely different things. If you are IFR, you must fly a published procedure or be vectored by ATC. FS default ATC will generally vector you onto the ILS if one is present (as per John's description above), but you can request any other approach from the menu.

If you want to fly the VFR circuit, and you are in VMC, you can always cancel IFR.

Although it's not an option with FS ATC, real world it is possible to fly instrument approaches while VFR -- that is how IR students learn how to do it.

[Wyatt 0]

Thank you.

[aeromax 10]

Correct.

(real World)

Normally you have to make a initial-call 5min., 05nm or 10nm before reaching the aerodrome. Therefore you have to report your call-sign, aircraft-type, position and altitude.... and what you like to do...e.g. to land:

It is also possible under VFR conditions unless you are not familiar with the aerodrome; is 500ft. to fly above traffic pattern altitude. For example, the traffic pattern altitude is 1.200ft and flown over (midfield) the 090 degree angle in 1.700ft. Outside the traffic pattern to start with the descent to traffic pattern altitude (here:1.200ft); absolutely -no-go- is the descent within the traffic pattern!!!. Now e.g. the runway 25 is in operation/ active, it will be flown outside the traffic pattern (after "crossing" right downwind on heading 340 degrees) a 180 degrees left turn and with a 045 degrees angle into the right downwind.The reason for this is to have the departing traffic from runway 25 and other traffic in view. Then follow the normal procedures. The procedure is not applied at airports with mandatory reporting points. For questions, I am happy to help.