iFly GPS Forum

TSO'd Garmin WAAS navigators provide advisory vertical guidance on at least some approaches while non-WAAS boxes do not. It is kind of a cute trick but I tend to towards the dive and drive school of thought so for me they are mostly a reference to make sure I'm getting the dive right.

Remember, folks, that real ILSs do not all have the same approach angle. If I am reading the TERPS correctly (Ch. 2, Para. 244), angles can vary from 2.75 to 3.77 degrees on civilian approaches. If the approach calls for a high angle and the cockpit "situational awareness" box provides a TERPS "optimum" three degrees, things could get very exciting.

I think AdventurePilot' best course of action, paraphrasing Peter Lynch, is to "Go for a product that any idiot can run -- because sooner or later, any idiot probably is going to run it."

If we're voting, I vote no.

> " Pilots are responsible for their flights. It is not incumbent upon others to hold our hands."

Of course. True in life as well as in the world of aviation.

This V-ILS feature simply can be left turned off if someone is not "adventurous" or curious enough to practice with it during normal VFR flying to gain sufficient confidence in its utility.

Wouldn't it be nice when flying VFR-on-top to know you can get yourself safely and easily to any of the nearest runways in case of engine failure?

The V-ILS has nothing to do with any established ILS with their angles, nor with any visual approach aids such as VASI's or PAPI's. It gives you course and descent guidance to the threshold of any airport in the database. You set your own descent angle based on surrounding terrain or whatever one feels comfortable with. 5° (or even steeper) was/is no problem at all. If you've got a dead engine the approach is going to be steeper than a normal ILS glideslope would be, plus a steep angle is insurance against terrain or obstructions, generally speaking. I normally used a 5° glideslope angle when using the ATC V-ILS (before AWM turned it into a sales gimmick, after which it was unusable).

What's not to like about such a fun and potentially life/plane-saving feature?

Mike