Easiest definition of back course I could come up with:

The backcourse is used when, for example, you're attempting a go around and the runway is behind you.

To keep the numbers simple, a runway with the heading of 090 also has runway going the other way with a heading of 270...try to visualize here...lol

So if you've got yourself set up for landing on runway 9, and you miss it, keeping everything set for 9 won't help you much if you're flying away from it, know what I mean?

click back course and your A/P will know that the opposite of 9 is 27...

Sorry if this is too confusing, it took me a while to get it too.  Hopefully it'll hold you over til someone can explain it better.  lol

NAV hold is used to track VOR radials or if you switch the NAV/GPS to GPS it will hold the GPS course for a filed flightplan.

Backcourse is used in two ways:
If you are landing on a runway that doesn't have ILS, however the other end of the runway does have it, you can dial in the ILS freq and course for the opposite end and use backcourse and the autopilot will track the centerline to your end of the runway like a localizer (no glideslope). If you tune the course of the runway you are actually landing on, the needle will be deflected to the wrong side. Still works but can be confusing.

Backcourse can be used in instrument approaches, Aspen is an example with a backcourse from a nearby localizer being used in the missed approach procedure.

Quote:


From what I've heard/read/experienced, that's pretty standard advice for all of the checkrides.  lol

Bruce;

FS's ATC will only vector you to the default runway of all airports.

Example;

If you're aproaching your destination with the intention of landing on RW 9. You contact ATC and they'll vector you something like, "Make right base, RW 27 to land".
Runway 27 would be the default RW for that airport.
The way to change it would be to set your weather so the wind comes out of 270.

Remember, you'll always takeoff and land into the wind.