Help me get my head around ILS approach…
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there are two CRS settings, currently independant from each other in BMS
The one on the HSI
The one on the DedThe one on the HSI is necessary for the regular tacan intercepts. But not so for ILS because the ILS Localizer is specifically set on the runway heading, so you don’t need to set CRS because the localizer will always be aligned with the runway (as opposed to a tacan that can be set to any of the 360 radials)
That said it’s much easier to work with an aligned instrument !The one on the Ded is the reference that alows the Command steering to work fine.
That means the hud symbology being able to guide you to optimal intercept (follow the cue)
If the Command steering works in BMS, it’s CRS setting is not necessary in the current BMS version - which is an omission. The system will guide you whatever you have entered as CRS setting. It may change in the future but for the moment it is optionalBottom line, both are optional for now for ILS, but I’d say that it’s good practise anyway to enter both with the runway heading which is displayed on the top line of the ILS charts
here’s what the training manual says about it and I suggest you read lesson #4
Entering the ILS frequency is done the same way as you just did for the TACAN. The system will be able to differentiate a TACAN channel from an ILS frequency. Enter 1 1 0 3 0 in the scratchpad and hit ENTR. If you entered the wrong frequency you will see ILS red LOC and GS flags on the ADI.
Once the ILS frequency is set the scratchpad moves to the CRS setting. This CRS is independent from the HSI CRS and should allow the HUD command steering cue to work correctly in relation to the ILS radial. The course for Runway 36 is 356° so let’s input 3 5 6 ENTR.
The scratchpad then moves to the CMD STRG line which you can mode select or not. When mode selected a steering cue will be displayed in the HUD showing you your course for optimal intercept of the ILS. It is very similar to a flight director in commercial aircraft. If you do not wish to use it simply un-mode select CMD STRG with the M-SEL 0 button.
Finally, check the top right corner of the T-ILS page to check if the ILS system is ON or OFF. Symbology will be displayed if it’s on. If it is off you need to turn the ILS knob on the AUDIO 2 panel clockwise to turn it on.
Move to the INSTR MODE panel and select TCN/ILS; the ILS symbology will then be displayed in the HUD and ADI. The HSI will only display the localizer.
You could select NAV/ILS rather than TCN/ILS; the distance information in NAV/ILS is related to the active steerpoint, as opposed to the selected TACAN in TCN/ILS mode.
Please note: BMS does not feature ILSDME, so distance is never to the ILS, but to the TACAN or the active steerpointThe HSI CRS is set to 000 so 4° offset from the ILS course. It is good practice to set the ILS course in the HSI as well. Although it will not impact the localizer deviation it will make your situational awareness better as it points straight out to the ILS approach track. You could do it at a 90° off angle and still fly a perfect ILS but it is making life more complicated for nothing.
Variations exist for developed bases, e.g. Kunsan 36 is actually heading 356.
See the Kunsan chart, if the Op is looking for the information, it’s under the LOC heading
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So I’m looking at the charts: index of airports… And I see for example the Airport “Kimpo” with 4 runway frequencies, like for example 108.3(32L) and 110.1(14R) and so on… So if I want to make an ILS approach, what should I input as crs in the T-ILS page? In the manual says that I have to input the correct runway heading, where is that in the charts?
Also I have a question, about runways, do they have one correct direction that you should make your landing, or can you land from both directions?
You will be pleased to hear that some forum members spend a lot of time doing training videos.
Please search on YouTube for such videos. Supanova has done excellent ones based on BMS 4.33. Krause did some excellent 4.32 videos of which some are still relevantFor ILS:
All terminology and charts are explained
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I would add that though charts might look intimidating, the basic concepts are quite simple, once you overcome the shock of initial contact with them.
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For one, the runway number is the runway heading - 32 = HDG 320; 14 = HDG 140. So that’s your on-final course, as directed by ATC.
Close but not always correct. A great example would be Kunsan which is 18/36 but in actuality is 176/356. Sometimes they are exact but several runways aren’t.
Edit: Even better as my example happened to be exactly the ILS approach plate linked above by Red Dog. Reference the approach plates in the BMS directory or the picture above.
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For one, the runway number is the runway heading - 32 = HDG 320; 14 = HDG 140. So that’s your on-final course, as directed by ATC.
Oh! I see… So I’m supposed to add a zero in every number like … 108.3(32L) its crs is 320° nice. I think that should be a little bit more clarified in the manuals. So the number of the runway is its own heading when you add a zero at the end.
Another question I have is about the L anr R and what they mean… For 108.3(32L) what does the L here stands for?
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I would add that though charts might look intimidating, the basic concepts are quite simple, once you overcome the shock of initial contact with them.
I agree! But I also think the charts should include a seperate colum for the crs just to make it perfectly clear to new pilots!
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You will be pleased to hear that some forum members spend a lot of time doing training videos.
Please search on YouTube for such videos. Supanova has done excellent ones based on BMS 4.33. Krause did some excellent 4.32 videos of which some are still relevantFor ILS:
All terminology and charts are explained
These are perfect! I will give them a look
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Oh! I see… So I’m supposed to add a zero in every number like … 108.3(32L) its crs is 320° nice. I think that should be a little bit more clarified in the manuals. So the number of the runway is its own heading when you add a zero at the end.
I hope you read this quote from above that pointed out this is generally, but not exactly true:
Close but not always correct. A great example would be Kunsan which is 18/36 but in actuality is 176/356. Sometimes they are exact but several runways aren’t.
Another question I have is about the L anr R and what they mean… For 108.3(32L) what does the L here stands for?
You’ll sometimes see, for example, 32L and 32R. In this case there are 2 parallel runways at the airport and they are distinguished as either R (right) or L (left) since they are both the same heading. When you’re coming in for landing, if you’re landing on 32L, you want to land on the LEFT of the 2 runways on that heading. Also note that coming from the other side they are also the actual Left and Right, so 32L becomes 14R and 32R becomes 14L coming from the opposite direction.
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Oh! I see… So I’m supposed to add a zero in every number like … 108.3(32L) its crs is 320° nice. I think that should be a little bit more clarified in the manuals. So the number of the runway is its own heading when you add a zero at the end.
Another question I have is about the L anr R and what they mean… For 108.3(32L) what does the L here stands for?
Yes, that will get you in the ballpark with caveats as described elsewhere - L and R stand for Left and Right and indicates that there are two parallel runways on the field. 108.3 is the ILS freq for runway 32 L, etc.
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I agree! But I also think the charts should include a seperate colum for the crs just to make it perfectly clear to new pilots!
The BMS charts use a standard aviation layout. For real world examples search Google for “Jeppesen approach chart”. When you learn the format in BMS, you’re also learning the format for civil aviation, and vice versa.
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I agree! But I also think the charts should include a seperate colum for the crs just to make it perfectly clear to new pilots!
Please reread my post and you’ll notice it’s there
By the way, None of this is specific to BMS, it’s mostly aviation culture. -
+1, RD…for the OP: bear in mind that a lot of us here are RL pilots, so most of this stuff in familiar to us. For those that are new to BMS - read: new to flying - yes, there is a lot to learn to come up to “standard”. And in moving to doing instrument work you’re actually skipping a lot of training that some of us RL pilots have already been through - and you’re essentially trying to do that without a formal instructor. BMS is a complex sim, based on RL operation…so always keep that in mind, and walk before you run.
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lot’s of useful info already… I’d like to add this video:
I just like the way it’s made
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+1, RD…for the OP: bear in mind that a lot of us here are RL pilots, so most of this stuff in familiar to us. For those that are new to BMS - read: new to flying - yes, there is a lot to learn to come up to “standard”. And in moving to doing instrument work you’re actually skipping a lot of training that some of us RL pilots have already been through - and you’re essentially trying to do that without a formal instructor. BMS is a complex sim, based on RL operation…so always keep that in mind, and walk before you run.
This is the biggest hurdle for me to get my head around as an average bloke that loves mil sims, but have not been fortunate enough to go through the RL training. I assume just nav alone is a tonne of theory and practical exams conducted by seasoned professionals. But here we are going head first into the deep end all with the support of a [great] forum and youtube.
So for the average simmer who doesnt have RL experience, keep that in mind when youre struggling with a concept and keep practising. Its very rewarding once that light bulb moment clicks and you just ‘get it’… And besides, the other guys with RL experience are “cheating” in BMS compared to us average blokes
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This is the biggest hurdle for me to get my head around as an average bloke that loves mil sims, but have not been fortunate enough to go through the RL training. I assume just nav alone is a tonne of theory and practical exams conducted by seasoned professionals. But here we are going head first into the deep end all with the support of a [great] forum and youtube.
So for the average simmer who doesnt have RL experience, keep that in mind when youre struggling with a concept and keep practising. Its very rewarding once that light bulb moment clicks and you just ‘get it’… And besides, the other guys with RL experience are “cheating” in BMS compared to us average blokes
Actually, basic navigation itself is a lot of simple geometry…but using the “aids” to nav adds a whole new dimension. This is where progressing through a series of sims can be a fair replacement for formal RL training. Learning to fly and navigate in a Cessna in MFS, then stepping into a Viper in FAF, then studying BMS is a fair progression in leaning and understanding basic principles, IMO.
I got my Private Pilot Certificate in 1983, and have been at the Falcon series since about 1987…I think. And now that I’m finally getting around to BMS I find there are still things to learn. Be patient…you’ll get it.
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How different are the military approach plates?
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How different are the military approach plates?
Each nation uses a slightly different page layout. US military uses a format standardized with the US FAA, previously known as NOS now called NOCA or AeroNav. As a civilian light airplane pilot I use the same charts as a US military guy, albeit in digital format via a product called ForeFlight. You can find PDF versions here. Most US airlines now use an Electronic Flight Bag with digital plates. Most US airlines use Jeppesen plates that have something called a briefing strip across the top. IMO the briefing strip simply provides a more logical organization of the approach information.
FWIW the Luftwaffe published a small volume of local VFR traffic patterns for all airfields in Germany. The US did not. Guys in my squadron in Germany like to stop for gas at Luftwaffe bases and grab one.
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For one, the runway number is the runway heading - 32 = HDG 320; 14 = HDG 140. So that’s your on-final course, as directed by ATC.
nah, not that easy.
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nah, not that easy.
In the USA it is…actually. Runways are numbered to the first two digits of mag heading; and I’ve lived long enough to see the runways renumbered on my station because the mag var changed. Does that mean they are exact? Only to the first two digits as pointed out. MMV worldwide, but in principle - get to the initial, fly the needles.
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I think the rule is ±15 degrees. Runways are sometimes named in interesting ways. SJC had 3 runways, all parallel, two for Boeings and one for little squirts. The big ones were 30L and 30R while the shorty was named 29 to avoid the obvious mixup. Magnetic variation also changes over time and in bad cases what was named sensibly is many degrees different now. Runways not named as close as possible to their heading is hen’s teeth rare but it does happen.
If you’re flying a published approach you’ve got a copy of it in your lap. The final approach course is printed clearly on it and that’s the number you use. It is unpilotlike to do anything else. Bad habits are hard enough to avoid over time without them advocated for in the introduction to the subject.