A pilot is manually flying an ILS approach. The Flight Director roll bar is to the left of centre, but the ILS raw data indicator is to the right. What should the pilot do?
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A
Switch off the Flight Director and follow the raw data. This indication scenario shows an obvious fault in the system.
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B
Ignore both indicators and revert to visual flight.
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C
Follow the Flight Director, which is indicating the correct course of action to return to the centreline.
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D
Initiate an immediate go around.
Refer to figures.
EASA learning objective 022.06.03.01.04 states: Explain why the flight director must be followed when engaged/shown, and describe the appropriate use of the flight director: flight director only; autopilot only; flight director and autopilot; typical job-share between pilots (pilot flying (PF)/pilot monitoring (PM)) for selecting the parameters when autopilot is engaged versus disengaged; highlight when the flight director should not be followed or should be disengaged.
EASA learning objective 022.06.03.01.05 states: Give examples of different scenarios and the resulting flight director indications.
The flight director (FD) computes and indicates the direction and magnitude of control inputs required to acheive an attitude or follow a trajectory. If the FD is in VOR/LOC mode it will give roll commands to intercept and maintain the ILS localiser.
ILS 'raw data' refers to the localiser and glideslope deviation displays on the PFD and ND. The localiser deviation display at the bottom of the PFD indicates the position of the localiser centreline relative to your aircraft, each dot on the scale represents 0.5° deviation. It's important to note that the raw data on the deviation display is not necessarily and indication of which way you need to turn to intercept and maintain the localiser!
The figures in this explanation show the PFD and ND of a Boeing 737 as it approaches runway 09L at Heathrow. The localiser course is 092° and the aircraft is approaching from the north on a south easterly intercept heading. The localiser will therefore be on the right of the aircraft as illustrated by the magenta diamond on the PFD and the magenta deviation bar on the ND.
Clearly if the ILS course is 092° and the aircraft is approaching the localiser on a heading of approx 135° a LEFT turn will be required to intercept and maintain it, the raw data magenta diamond will be to the right and it will slowly move inwards as the aircraft turns so that at wings level the diamond will be in the centre.
If the FD is engaged in VOR/LOC mode the FD will give the appropriate roll commands to intercept and maintain the localiser so it should be followed
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Austro Control19
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