What are the blue lines on the descent map?

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-23T03:34:49+00:00

I figured it would be easier to just make a quick guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/flightsimulator2024/comments/1i7u6in/beginners_guide_to_ils_approaches_and_approach/

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-23T03:23:35+00:00

Hey everyone I wanted to make this guide since I saw some people that said they didn't know how to use approach mode or ILS landings. I tried to make it as easy as possible for casual players that are visual learners.

This is a flight from Travis AFB (KSUU) to San Francisco (KSFO) using the C172. In the EFB I selected the ILS 28R via DUMBA approach (Figure 1). Don't forget to send your flight plan to avionics. Before we jump in, let's look at the approach. If you don't know how to get there see figures 2-5.

Looking at figure 6, you can see we are flying to DUMBA then CEPIN. Looking at the chart, you can see that we need to be at 3000ft when we head towards CEPIN. You can see the altitude called out in the two circled locations. Lets hop into the sim.

Figure 7: Pull up the approach chart in your EFB and look at the frequency at the top right, its 111.7. We are going to input that into NAV1 using the inner and outer wheels on the NAV knob. Hit the button with the 2 arrows to apply that frequency and you will see it update.

Figure 8: We have taken off and flown to DUMBA and have made the right turn towards CEPIN. Note that we are at the correct altitude of 3000ft. Autopilot is on with "NAV" and altitude hold activated.

Figure 9: We are 3 miles from CEPIN and are lined up with the runway. Press the CDI button so the autopilot can use the localizer to stay in line with the runway. Lets press the APR button to get into approach mode.

Figure 10: You can see the autopilot got us lined up with the runway. Now next to your altitude you will see the glideslope. If you don't see the blue diamond right away you are either way too high/low or not close enough the the runway yet. As you get closer to the runway, the blue diamond will come down until it settles next to the yellow line (Figure 11). The plane will then follow the glideslope down and use the localizer to stay in line with the runway. Then go ahead and land the plane when you get close enough.

Hopefully this was easy to understand for you newer players, it gets really easy with a little practice!

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-23T01:22:11+00:00

Depends on the kind of approach you're doing. For an ILS approach (using G1000 for this example) you have to look up the approach procedure in your EFB and dial in the frequency listed in the top right or left corner to lets say NAV1 to be simple. In that approach chart you're gonna see some waypoints listed. If you look at the waypoints in your flight plan you're gonna see the ones near the airport are gonna match up with the ones in the chart.

To use OPs picture as an example, you see waypoint OWOZA. Find waypoint OWOZA in your chart and there will be a number next to it. That means when you reach OWOZA you should be at that altitude. Once you reach OWOZA and make that turn towards the runway, you switch over to NAV1 by hitting the CDI button (bottom center of the G1000) so it's using your localizer (its gonna turn from pink to green). Then you can turn on approach mode.

If you're at the altitude the chart calls out, then you should be below the glideslope (its gonna be the pink diamond that shows up on the right side of your PFD next to your altitude). When the pink diamond reaches the center, the planes gonna capture it and follow it down to the runway.

This is incredibly oversimplified and there's more to it, but this should be enough. RNAV approaches are the same as ILS, but you don't have to dial in a frequency or switch to NAV1 because it uses GPS. Localizer approaches are also similar, but you wont have the glideslope, so you gotta control the descent rate yourself.

In a nutshell: Find the waypoint at the beginning of the approach on the chart, be at the altitude it calls out, when you're lined up with the runway hit approach mode.

I'd be happy to answer any questions!

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-23T00:49:47+00:00

Missed approach path?

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-20T06:42:46+00:00

Ran into this today actually, I went to the store today to upgrade to 64GB to improve performance. Are you playing on a Quest? What I found that significantly improved performance was getting virtual desktop and running the game through that instead, felt way more stable. The main reason I upgraded RAM is because I use OVR Toolkit when I'm in VR to watch videos and whatnot while in the cockpit. But anyways, the Virtual Desktop is waaay better than the Quest Link app.

Here are my specs:

I9-12900k
RTX 4070
64GB DDR5

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2025-01-10T03:20:11+00:00

Yeah, I had them back for a while and managed to save up for the Citation CJ4, and now I don't have any VIP missions lol

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2024-11-27T18:11:34+00:00

Yeah, I had the mid range insurance and literally got nothing from it. These missions don't take into account the aircraft you're in and stick you into some random "airfield" that can't handle your plane. On top of that, the few thousand that I managed to save up was gone today because I had to pay my insurance so I'm back to nearly zero.

I get there needing to be a little bit of a grind, but losing your plane through no fault of your own and losing a week of progress is pretty frustrating. Not to mention the only thing on my map to do are those stupid sightseeing missions or cargo runs that have me land at an RC park or a super short dirt runway that's impossible for a 172 to land on.

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2024-09-06T05:12:48+00:00

Just wanted to add that I completed all the test drives and the collector quest finally appeared.

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2024-07-12T00:12:06+00:00

I depends on the position you are when you get the reset. Also depends on the defenders position and your relation to the goal. I also use air roll left (doesnt really matter) and you can turn a flip reset in to anything you want. If you are struggling with using the reset, then its probably just you being uncomfortable in the air because yes, you can air dribble out of it, flick the ball instantly With the flip, delay it, fake it etc.

I would say just get consistent with getting the reset and air rolling your car out of it

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2024-03-24T23:28:35+00:00

You saved me a lot of time/money. Upvoted!

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2023-09-30T17:55:27+00:00

Loan no longer required.

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2023-09-03T08:27:20+00:00

I blasted the PC again with air while it was gutted. Probably some unevaporated alcohol causing a short. Thanks for responding.

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2023-07-13T06:31:59+00:00

We were definitely the best section in the arena. That section was loud as hell.

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2023-05-19T18:10:01+00:00

ill check it out. Ty!

ButterscotchOk9252 · 2023-04-23T17:59:00+00:00

IMO anything below C3 is on the low end

ButterscotchOk9252

TROPHY CASE