Autopilot Landing with small planes (Heinz Commanche)

[digitalpaul]

Hi... I am looking on how to do an Autopilot landing with Heinz Commanche Plane.  I have been on youtube and looked at dozens of "tutorials", however they all seem to be for Heavy Metal Airliners and the cockpits are not the same. 

 

In line with this, I need to know how to "intercept" a glidescope. How do I know if I am on it?

 

Thank You

 

digitalpaul

[digitalpaul]

After many hours of experimenting, I have worked out this answer. I post it to help anyone with a similar question.  I still do not know how to tell if I am on the "glidescope".  I have just winged it, but want to know if there is an instrument in the cockpit that tells you?

 

X-Plane 10 ILS AutoPilot Landing Tutorial

 

This Tutorial makes the assumption that you know how to land your plane Manually

I am using the Heinz Commanche for this Tutorial. For other planes the instruments might be placed differently but you should be able to find them. Flight Director is another name for the autopilot.

 

- On the top line menu of X-plane, click on Location/Select Global Airport

            - Select PHNL and then Select Runway 04R at 3mn

            - Your plane will be pointed at the runway at an altitude of about 1000ft.

 

Hit the PAUSE button and do the following

 

Select the 3D cockpit view to make your settings. Zoom in to better see what you are doing.

 

In the Commanche all the instruments you need are located to the right of the 6-pack guages.

 

The GPS is located on top. Underneath that are the radio selector switches

 

            - Set the radio to NAV1 by clicking on it. A light will go on next to it indicating it is set.

            - Underneath the selection switches are two radios.

            - Set the NAV1 radio (Top right by clicking on the knob under the display

                        (The big knob changes the whole number. The little knob changes the decimals)

           

Set the NAV1 radio to the ILS frequency of PHNL runway 04R to110.50

 

            To find the ILS frequency of any Airport Runway

            -  Click on Location (top menu) then Local map.

            -  On the right side of the map, make sure show the ALL ILS box is checked

            -  Long Arrow Like markings will be displayed for the runways that have ILS

                        - At the point of the arrow will be a box with the runway number and the

                          frequency of the ILS for that number

                        - Set that number in the NAV1 Radio

                       

-Underneath the radios is the AUTOPILOT.  Enlarge the view so you can set the following

 

            - Click on LOC and G/S (Glidescope ) Buttons... They will light up

 

            - On top of the G/S light is the ON/OFF Knob of the Autopilot

.

            Turn this knob by clicking on it to the AUTO position on the far right.  If you do not do             this, it will not work

 

            UnPAUSE and the autopilot will take over control of your plane.

 

NOTE:  All the Autopilot does is point you in the right direction and start bringing your plane down.  You must MANUALLY set the flaps, lower the landing gear, and adjust your speed.

 

If you are lucky the plane will land itself, however, I have found that you may need to flair the plane manually just before the wheels hit the ground or the plane will crash into the runway.

 

Follow the same procedure using any airport and ILS runway.  I hope this helps.

[andydckent]

Most small planes do not have an 'autoland' feature and the autopilot should be disengaged before flare and touchdown. Usually this would be performed at least 100 ft above the ground I would think.

[andydckent]

You can intercept the localiser by flying toward it at an angle of around 30 degrees with the frequency for the ILS set on the nav radio and the loc button depressed. When your aircraft reaches that point (assuming it is on autopilot) it will start to turn onto the runway heading and the loc button will turn from armed to active (it might be indicated by a yellow light turning to green). At this point or before hand you can arm the glideslope by pressing the GS button. When the plan crosses the glideslope (where that slope crosses your altitude) the GS will become active (yellow to green light perhaps) and the plane will begin to descend.

 

There are a great many tutorials out there that explain this better than I have. You'll have to experiment a bit but it will soon become easy to do. I suggest starting about 5 miles from the airfield to the left or right of the localiser flying towards that at an angle of 30 degrees at an altitude of about 3,000 ft.

 

There are also probably indicators on your artificial horizon or PFD which show whether the glideslope is above or below you. You want to catch it from below it.

Edited June 23, 2015 by andydckent

[digitalpaul]

Thank you so much.  I am doing well nowl CU Later...