Straight In???

LuckyBlunder,

When ATC guides you to another runway and they give clearance to another runway you need to set your course for that heading and go straight in that way. The wind direction has changed, traffic pattern has changed, etc...

edr -

Understood. That's why I was vectored around the airport to the west to eventually land from south to north. But the last instruction I got put me on an easterly course. I figured the least they could do was line me up approx. with the runway.

I, maybe didn't explain it very well.

Thats not ATC's job as far as I know, well it certainly doesn't happen in the sim, they will vector you to as high as 90 degree angle to the runway, which hardly helps. This is where you have to use the ILS, ATC places you in a position that you can capture the glideslope at, and then descend, thats what it means by "fly straight in".

Yes. That is what I was trying to say. You have to find your Vector into the runway. They just get you close to it..?? I hope I am not telling you something that is incorrect. I hate that when it happens to me too.

Ed

If you do it again, listen carefully to the transmision from ATC. They will vector you in to that 90 degree angle to your runway and tell you to fly that heading and maintain whatever altitude they gave you until "established" on the localizer. Once you are established, you are cleared to fly straight in.

It's your job to turn onto the runway heading once the needle (the magenta diamond at the bottom of your outboard display which is your ILS approach reference giving you the localizer positition relative to your airplane) starts to move toward the center indicating that you are established

Thanks ALL !! The situation has been clarified. I don't like it, but at least I'll be able to avoid another missed approach.

I've since found out that you sometimes get to the glideslope before ATC gives you the final instructions.

Maybe it will help to clarify that in the real world, ATC recognizes two types of approach to landing. You can either fly a "pattern" approach or a "straight in" approach. A pure pattern approach will have you established on the downwind leg within a mile or so of the runway for light aircraft and 1-2 miles for larger. You turn to base leg within 2-3 miles of the end of the runway and turn when necessary to intercept the center-line approach course for landing. There can often be variations such as initially establishing yourself on the base leg - the key is the distance from the runway you turn to final.

Straight in approaches establish you on the final approach course much further from the runway, often 10-15 miles but it can be much further. However, unless your aircraft was already established on the exact course for landing, there has to be some turning to establish yourself on final. When ATC issues the turn instructions, it is known as "vectoring". Regardless of the turning necessary to establish yourself on final, if you are on final outside of normal pattern distances, you are flying a straight in approach.