Simviation Forum - 747 autopilot questions

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Simviation Forum › Current Flight Simulator Series › FS 2004 - A Century of Flight › 747 autopilot questions

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747 autopilot questions (Read 286 times)

Jun 29^th, 2004 at 12:14pm

digant Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 38

I have some questions about using autopilot on a 747 (and other planes, really).

First of all, can someone explain to me the difference between the various buttons: Heading, Nav, Back Course, Approach (I usually fly using the Heading Hold and Alt Hold but I am curious how Nav is different than Heading Hold, and what Back Course and Approach are).

Second, is there a step by step guide to using the Approach? I know I have to use the ILS freq on Nav1 of the radio but from that point, I'm not sure how the APP works. I have used it once and it seemed to line me up on the runway and I controlled the speed and pitch to come down for a landing. But the next time I used it, the autopilot insisted on flying my airplane towards the ground straight into downtown Dallas (coming in to KDAL). What all does Approach handle for me and how do I use it properly?

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Reply #1 - Jun 29^th, 2004 at 1:20pm

Nexus Offline
Colonel
The greater of two evils...

Gender:
Posts: 3282

This is gonna be quick (I'm at work)
Heading hold (a.k.a Heading select) will keep the aircraft at the selected heading, however it won´t correct for wind drift, which may cause you to stray away from your course.
Nav hold will track the dialed in course, and since the aircraft knows which course to follow it CORRECTS for wind drift. The aircraft tracks the course, in short terms.

Approach hold is a mode where the aircraft aligns itself with the ILS signals, to do this you need the ILS course.

Back course is a system that will make you able to land a runway which only has ONE ILS system installed. if the ILS system is for runway 18, the back course function will allow you to fly the approach to runway 36. However, no glideslope signal is provided, only localizer.

well got to go, sorry for the breif explanations

« Last Edit: Jun 29^th, 2004 at 5:47pm by Nexus »

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Reply #2 - Jun 29^th, 2004 at 10:06pm

garymbuska Offline
Colonel
I would rather be flying
Jacksonville, Florida

Gender:
Posts: 2850

I strongly suggest you take some of the lessons in FS2004 They should help you a lot. The checkrides at the end may not work right. But after flying them a couple of times you should be able to judge for yourself if you are ready for the next step. Just take your time and in the end you will master it. 8)

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Reply #3 - Jun 30^th, 2004 at 12:35am