vor/loc app mode............

[brent p h]

For the most part do you guys use this on low-vis approaches? Or do you hand fly from the IAF on a clear bright sunny day? I am presuming it is captains discretion or whatever the situation may dictate.

[Dugie8]

Kind of a broad question. Vor/Loc (aka NAV) mode is different that APP mode. VOR/LOC mode gives you lateral tracking only and at a "wider" sensitivity. APP mode gives lateral and vertical tracking at a tighter sensitivity. With that, ask away.

[JAM]

Some systems have VOR and/or LOC app mode. I will use them depending on the situation/workload. Usually, it's the decision of the PF at the time.

[brent p h]

Originally Posted by Dugie8

Kind of a broad question. Vor/Loc (aka NAV) mode is different that APP mode. VOR/LOC mode gives you lateral tracking only and at a "wider" sensitivity. APP mode gives lateral and vertical tracking at a tighter sensitivity. With that, ask away.

Mainly my question is directed toward B737 type aircraft as far as the general approach phase. It does make sense to apply it in accordance with workload.

[woodreau]

It really depends on the system, but I think it is two separate systems - the vor/loc app mode tells the flight director what to track.

Being on a selected mode has no bearing on whether you are hand-flying or whether the autopilot is flying.

You can have the Nav or some other mode selected but still hand fly the plane.

[ppragman]

Originally Posted by brent p h

For the most part do you guys use this on low-vis approaches? Or do you hand fly from the IAF on a clear bright sunny day? I am presuming it is captains discretion or whatever the situation may dictate.

Well this is completely unrelated, but there's this guy at work who calls LOC "VORLOCK!"

And I always laugh when I hear that, I picture some crazy little gremlin or something.

[Lee D]

Originally Posted by Dugie8

Kind of a broad question. Vor/Loc (aka NAV) mode is different that APP mode. VOR/LOC mode gives you lateral tracking only and at a "wider" sensitivity. APP mode gives lateral and vertical tracking at a tighter sensitivity. With that, ask away.

For visual approaches I sometimes use vor/loc or appr mode on the flight director, other times I just use raw data. I nearly always hand fly from at least the last 5 or 10 miles or so. If I get a wild hair I'll hand fly the entire leg. (Just so I can feel like I'm in the same league as the Beech 1900 guys. ) In the soup I'll nearly always use the flight director. APPR mode for ILS approaches, NAV mode for the VOR and GPS approaches. If the WX is down to mins or if I am doing a parallel approach with other aircraft close by I will use the autopilot for sure.

[Lee D]

Originally Posted by brent p h

For the most part do you guys use this on low-vis approaches? Or do you hand fly from the IAF on a clear bright sunny day? I am presuming it is captains discretion or whatever the situation may dictate.

Most the time I don't care if my F/O's hand fly or use the autopilot nearly the entire time. The only little concern I have is when someone very new tries to hand fly just to impress the other guy/gal and they do a horrible job at it. Blowing through altitudes, then correcting abruptly, then doing it again while missing other critial stuff because they are so engrossed in getting the hand flying correct. Keep the pax and f/a comfortable and get to know the airplane better before you do lots of hand flying.