FSX Tutorial: ILS Approach & Landing

A quick video explaining what an Instrument Landing System (ILS) is and how to set up a plane to fly a precision instrument approach and landing.
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Copyright © 2015 - Doofer911 - All Rights Reserved.
DISCLAIMER: While this video is intended for educational purposes, I must stress that I am not a professional pilot or instructor and I am not certified in any way with regards to aviation or education. Every subject I talk about is based on my personal study and understanding. Therefore the information I give may be incorrect or inaccurate and should NOT be used as a reference for real world flying.

[@2806vick]

8 YEARS LATER and still, one of the best videos covering the subject. Congratulations and thank you!!

[@meatmissilef111]

probably the best ILS video on youtube.

[@Doofer911]

Wow, thanks for the positive review! :D

[@willharpel771]

+Doofer911 agreed this is one of the best for people trying to learn the system

[@jm08a31]

Your tuts are always the best.

[@rolenn1]

Meat Missile F1-11 i

[@Justshredman]

To This day

[@Chiko700]

This is just exactly what i needed lol. 8 years later man, thank you.

[@Doofer911]

No problem, glad this video could help :)

[@hakunamatata3913]

7 years on since my last comment, I am still lurking around your videos. They are so cool that one needs to visit them repeatedly to stay current. I have FSX 2020 now and had to come back to basics once again. Hope you are doing well too. My best always and thanks a ton, again.

[@Goldiney]

These are, without a doubt, the *best* FSX tutorials on the web. Thank you for this!

[@Doofer911]

+Goldiney Thank YOU for the kind comment :)

[@hakunamatata3913]

Hi! I am an aviation enthusiast from India and stumbled upon your videos from among zillions on youtube. I am happy to say that your way of explaining things is brilliant and the way you relate it all to your nicely done videos has helped me a lot in understanding a lot of things esp about GPS and ILS here. Keep up the good work and have a blessed life....Cheers.

[@Doofer911]

+Hakuna Matata Hey Hakuna, I'm really glad my videos are helping you, bless you too :)

[@marxtoro]

Man! You are awesome! It took me years to figure this out man. Thank you, wish I’d found you sooner

[@neallatham3745]

Very informative. Just the sort of simple, concise info I needed. Now to put it into practise.

[@UncleEti]

Ouf quelqu'un qui a une bonne élocution, en particulier calme, et qui explique ni plus ni moins un point précis de A à Z -que je cherchais depuis longtemps- , le tout dégraissé de tout baratin. Merci

[@aimenbarigoudz]

Footer you are my hero! Always searching and searching for different things to do with aviation and you’re the only one that explains properly and make quality vids! I love your videos!

[@Psihotronica]

Hi,Doofer911.I am Corcodel Cristian from Constanța,Romania.I am 36 years old.You are the FIRST man which combine laborious but extremely inteligible explanations,with their effects in Plane,MOST IMPORTANTLY,IN REAL TIME.Today Night 05.10.2015,02:33 hours Bucharest Time,i have seen 3-rd of your film,randomly mode,you see,KZbin have a Technique.After you seen a film,suddenly KZbin show you more others film maked by same User,even if you dont know that User have more film.I am a Aviation Enthusiast,like Hakuna Matata.I read allmost all things in FSX Topics,but not explane everything.I have understand aprox 40 %.But,whith you,Step by Stap,all Things get Revealed for me.You are THE BEST GUIDANCE FOR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!

[@Doofer911]

+Psihotronica Sunt atât de bucuros că videoclipurile mele sunt vă ajută. Vă mulțumim pentru tipul comentariu :)

[@shishi7gb]

After 5 years, still the best ILS video. I have watched this since I was not a pilot until being a CPL.

[@pavelow36]

what you do is that you don't add fluff to your videos. you go straight right into the topic without any needless intro like most in youtube. and you still end up with an appreciable length of video because of it's rich in content. thank you for that.

[@Doofer911]

Thanks for the kind words :) I wanted to make the videos as valuable and focused as possible.

[@user-ej9jq2zf1y]

Very methodically explained!!! One of the better educational channels that I have found that doesn't jump around all over the place!!! Thank you!

[@scottweaver9319]

I have watched all of your FSX series. You have helped me significantly looking forward to the GPS video thank you

[@Tiber234]

Very good tutorial - im currently applying what you've explained to the A2A version of the 172,

[@Roey512]

Amazing tutorial, finally someone who really explain it clearly. Helped me a lot, thanks!

[@Doofer911]

Glad the video could help :)

[@daadood100]

excellent explanation on the approach with the Cessa I never seen that before, good job

[@GraemeBNash]

Great job, your explanations and presentation are the best I've seen on KZbin. You really do help greatly in making sense of everything.

[@Doofer911]

Sabre Hey Sabre, thanks for your comment, glad my videos are helping you, it's great to have you subscribed!

[@jonnyg6892]

ive been so confused about this stuff...this video shed a lot of light on it. thank you so much!

[@designgordon]

Thanks a lot! Your tutorials are clear and i formative, makes it really enjoyable to learn!

[@nal2us2]

Excellent Tutorial. Knowing that I will never be able to afford the ability to learn how to fly a physical plane, I am still getting the satisfaction of such videos to increase my knowledge of virtual flying with FSX. Thank you so much!!!

[@goitsediale6020]

After watching millions of tutorials and getting no results. Yours has been the best! You explain very well,take things slow and guide step by step! I wish I could donate money or something.you make my Flight sim experience even better.Thank you Man you are the best. Sure got yourself a new subscriber! Stay well

[@Doofer911]

+Tsontso Diale Hey Tsontso, thank you for the kind comment! I'm really glad my videos suit you and are helping you get the most out of flight simming. Thanks for the sub, take care :)

[@ibanez3644]

hope you dont get bored with me saying great job again:) you really deserve a lot more subscribers. thx for the great work

[@Doofer911]

ibanez3644 haha, thank you very much. I'm just glad my videos are making sense!

[@richtaylor6039]

Brilliant video matey. One I keep coming back to when I need to polish my FSX flights. Thank you very much

[@kevindoyle5023]

This vid makes it so clear to understand. Cheers lad

[@MrCed0802]

Finally it clicked !! Thanks so much for this amazing video :)

[@exscape]

Since almost every comment is 2-3 years old, I just have to point out that this series is still doing a lot of good! I don't even use FSX and never have, but I'd say about 95% of the content applies equally well to flying the Cessna 172 in X-Plane 11! The radios are different than in these videos, but that hasn't been an issue for me at all. Great work!

[@Doofer911]

I'm very glad to hear that! I wanted these videos to be as widely applicable and accessible as possible so to hear that these can be beneficial to X-Plane users as well means the world to me :)

[@conorburke9428]

Nice vid this tutorial is a explained a lot better then all the other ones! subbed

[@Frankz011]

That was pretty neat! I watched a lot of VOR teaching video and it was good, but with the example from inside the plane it become clear! And I was always wondering how the button approach on the autopilot panel work, here it is! Thank you!!

[@Clerch9]

Thanks for the video! Just a heads up, check white speed vfe arch before lowering the flaps or structural damage may occur!

[@Uberbrat22]

Amazing tutorials man. Thank you.

[@C1Rob1990]

Thank you for this great video! I always had some idea of what it was but never really understood it, but now I fully do and will start practicing with it! Thank you!

[@Doofer911]

You're welcome, glad this video could help :)

[@Zalley]

Excellent explanation - thanks. I now understand what looked like a complex instrument!

[@slehar]

You see the red-and-white checkboard radio shack to the right of the runway near touch-down point? That is the glideslope antenna, located at the point where the glideslope hits the ground. The localizer antenna is beyond the end of the runway, along the extended center-line. The glideslope needle flipped just as the plane passed the shack.

[@joeberenguer3267]

Just found your channel -- this is better than many real world flight instructors

[@Doofer911]

Wow, I take that as a massive compliment, thank you :D

[@DrDavenstein]

This makes it really easy to understand. Thanks!

[@aryodimas7170]

Good tutorial man,you helped me alot about fsx thanks dude 🙌

[@Learnerofthings]

Great tutorials. Just started vlogging my own journey learning flight sims. Perfect landing, btw.

[@Fercho-tx8cu]

Very helpful tutorial! You're the best Doofer!

[@Doofer911]

Very kind of you to say :) thank you!

[@weatherbog]

Fantastic video, really useful. Many thanks.

[@redglazedeyez6652]

Ive subbed mate. Your vids clear and spot on. Make it all easy. I hope you do it all for fs2020

[@indyforrest4642]

Great video, Easy to follow and made a lot of sense. The only thing I noticed (being a pilot in real life) is that you added flaps before being in the flap range. The white bar to the right of the green bar on the ASI (Airspeed Indicator) is your flaps range. If you deploy flaps before being within that bar it can over-stress the flaps and in extreme cases, it can damage them or break them off. Obviously in a simulator this is not as crucial to note but in real life it is a very serious matter to consider. Aside from that, great tutorial. Thank you! Cheers

[@wyntje83]

Amazing tutorial. Calm, informative and simple. Wish YT would stop ranking vids based on views and likes and show gems like this at the top of the search page.

[@Doofer911]

+wyntje83 Think KZbin values watch time more than anything else nowadays. So the videos that most people watch for the longest get bumped.

[@MrHughes500]

Really good video. Great help. Thanks.

[@DiCola119]

I've been messing this up so much haha. Managing the glide slope and localizer simultaneously feels so delicate of a task. It's hard to correct one without losing track of the other.

[@Doofer911]

It is tricky and the ILS needles are very sensitive to changes.

[@copkhan007]

Excellent....Superb...easy to understand. Thanx for upload

[@robertsams847]

Excellent! Really shortens my learning curve! I subscribed!.

[@Doofer911]

I'm glad the videos could help, welcome to the channel :)

[@alexwill7818]

The best guide on whole KZbin, even for me (I'm from Ukrain), it's easier to understand your video in English that I don't know pretty well, than the video for the same theme in Russian that i know perfectly!

[@stevenbarkess7791]

Nice and simple explanation, thanks

[@propwashcowboy6650]

To answer your question about the PAPI lights and glideslope being a little off is a real world consideration. Approach plates that pilots navigate instrument approaches with will often have a note indicating “VGSL and ILS glidepath not coincident” this just means that the PAPI glidepath and ils glidepath may differ slightly. On an ILS approach in IMC you only go by the PAPI once in visual conditions.

[@Doofer911]

Ah that's interesting. I was always under the impression that the PAPI lights and ILS guided a plane directly onto the main aim point markers on a runway but that can't be true given what you've said.... very interesting!

[@william2735]

Sweet and thanks for the ride!

[@Nysoksieha]

oh wow this video explain alot to me I've been searching for it a long time but the other video explain like crap but your video explain so clearly I just subscribe to you :D I just wanted to say thank you for being honest I felt more confident while watching your video :)

[@Doofer911]

+Seyha Ny Hey Seyha, I'm so glad this video could make you feel more confident when flying, mission accomplished from my point of view :D

[@robk7196]

Thanks so much for this man! Super helpful!

[@dixie_rekd9601]

quick tip , runway designation is based on the heading of the runway, in this video runway 5 is between 50 and 59 degrees heading (55) , runway 28 would be 280 to 289 heading. its not super accurate but its useful to have an idea of where to eventually be when you're given a runway by approach.

[@richardmaldonado574]

Very good explanation!

[@joonykids]

excellent tutorial.Thanks!!

[@ELPaso1990TX]

Excellent video! So I guess the order of things if flying long distance using IFR is to find nearest VOR to destination airport then when reached tune in to the destination runway ILS for direction to landing? How far does the ILS signal travel from the localiser?

[@786free1]

Great video. Occasionally my aircraft does not intercept the glide slope even when I am under the glide slope and I'm doing everything else right. Does this happen to you as well?

[@JULIENVANCAMP]

Thanks for this video, very helpful.

[@Doofer911]

You're welcome, glad I could help :)

[@anisha7017]

Thanks for the nice explanation of using Auto Pilot with the ILS. I have been trying to do it myself. using the same configurations as used by you in the video. However, the auto pilot is not descending using the glide slope automatically as was shown by you. Can you please suggest the what can be the problem?

[@dpratt2000]

Thanks! Great video. Would be cool to see this ILS approach / landing done on the first go-round as clear skies, then again with heavy fog to 500 ft above ground. Would drive home the concept that you can't see the airport till your right there, but once you see it you leave the ILS instruments and fly the plane. Thanks again for the great demo!

[@Doofer911]

Yeah I did consider that but I wanted people to be able to see the runway clearly to help their understanding of how the instrument works and changes.

[@Minalover100]

I just subscribed to your channel. Thanks for the informative videos.

[@Doofer911]

+Minalover100 Welcome on board! I'm glad the videos are helping :)

[@Jenyaza01]

Exactly what i lookin' for )) Tolally informative

[@thephaze3]

I'm sure you might know this by now, but the PAPI lights on any given runway are aligned to the heaviest aircraft (tallest line of sight) that operate out of that particular field.

[@Tedaeus]

G'day Doofer - Have just revisited your excellent ILS video to refresh my previous (and forgotten) knowledge. Great video. How's your real life flying going?

[@estiejohnson536]

Thanks for the video!

[@TheUtuber999]

Thanks for the tutorial. I just retraced your steps in the video, except once the glideslope and localizer were centered, I went ahead and clicked "APR" and let the plane fly itself down to the runway. 😁

[@CaptainC6969]

I have my Private Pilot license for VFR flying and this was even helpful for me to learn how to shoot an ILS in real life lol. Thanks!!!

[@Doofer911]

haha I hope you had an instructor there to teach you properly! These videos shouldn't be used for real world flying unless you've sought instruction from a qualified instructor.

[@sAnKHa]

Thank You very much! it helped me

[@malafor7454]

Very good set of tutorials fella,they have helped me alot. AS your a fello celt +1 sub from wales :)

[@Doofer911]

+Malafor Celt's gotta stick together ;)

[@pbr2805]

I notice that on FSX 2006 version that trying to approach a runway that is not more or less a straight in approach from either a waypoint or from the departed airport that the plane most often will not pick up the glideslope. It seems that most of the videos that are on Utube show almost straight in approachs from a far distance. Angled runways from the departed airport don't seen to have good approach setups and cause missed approaches. Any words about this ?

[@tomasnunez8518]

Excellent!

[@torquaymouse2236]

graet video you explain a difficult subject clearly and make things I have struggled with seam simple, well done you've got a new subscriber.

[@Doofer911]

Welcome to the channel! I'm glad that's how my video came across.... mission acomplished! :D

[@torquaymouse2236]

ha that's funny, getting your message as I'm watching your vid on dead reckoning.

[@Shmygelbryl]

Briliant tutorials ! Watched it once and actually rememberd it all :D I where playing FSX and this stuff in the lessons confused and frustrated me to the point where I almost gave up on the sim altogether lol

[@Doofer911]

+Shmygelbryl I'm glad my videos could help :)

[@byuksel92]

you are the best person on earth

[@Doofer911]

Wow, thanks for the very kind comment! lol

[@michieltummers1303]

is it an idea to always fly semi auto when landing when there is a strong wind and you cant get the heading right? By using the heading bug on autopilot you only have to concern yourself about the trim and motor and landing the plane. Ofcourse just before landing you press the AP off. I don't know if people do this, and i am new to flying and simming, so i want to ask you if that is common practise or does everybody land without any AP setting at all, even with strong winds?

[@mjk-th2tm]

Awesome tutorial. Great job! I'm not sure if it was pointed out, but you won't be able to pick up the ILS signal until you're closer to your approach. The signal does not travel far. If you tune the frequency as you take-off, it won't immediately reflect to your destination landing tower.

[@Doofer911]

Thanks very much, you're definitely right. I can't remember if I mentioned that in the video, feels like I made it ages ago now!

[@mjk-th2tm]

@@Doofer911 Loved the video sir! You did a great job!

[@NextGenGamer1]

Can you explain me how to use that OBS thing. I don't get it how you enter for example 055

[@mostafasayed5671]

Amazing you how you land with no bouncing ?

[@ellonysman]

Where did you get 055 heading from? The maps? Just prior to final approach, if it was all foggy, how would you know how close you were to landing? DME?

[@tctoguy]

Helped a lot, cheers Mate!

[@Doofer911]

I'm glad the video could help :)

[@rackum44]

Do you fly with a yoke? If so what is your sensitivity and null? I'm having a tough time getting my yoke to respond like I want it to.

[@MEETKERTINZ]

The VOR1 Indicator doesnt change when I click STBY.

[@asadm9522]

At time 2.33, you said to turn obs to runway heading 055, where did you get this? Is this in same place you get airport frequency?. Is this step always like this.

[@keithgray7361]

Enjoying your video content. Just one quick pointer. Don't extend flaps until your speed drops into the white arc. Vfe

[@nal2us2]

Question Doofer... How do I get those AWESOME external views like you have in your videos that I can manually move around on my own? Please!!!! Do TELL!!!! Cheers!!!

[@robbierockin939]

just learning and starting ground school next week ,, your an amazing coach , thanx a million ,, finally figured out this VOR thing ,,cheeeeeers from Vancouver Canada mate

[@Doofer911]

Glad my video could help! :)

[@ericc7936]

the adf radio for frequencies to set to get the morris code for an airport where do i get that frequency? are there web pages that list them or will skyvector.com have it and if sv does how do i know what the adf freq is?

[@Doofer911]

Most reliable source would be the Map view in FSX. Also learning about navaids will help so you know the differences between ADF, VOR, DME, ILS etc

[@shariqinfo8015]

How you get this display on screen can you tell me please

[@tubzvermeulen]

Thanks for the video

[@reallynotpc]

Really useful!

[@chrisrenton7122]

Thanks mate.

[@REUBENOMOGI]

Good explanation

[@sarathw5740]

Good video.

[@orestesbastos]

Is there any way to land it using the autopilot?

[@grave8digger8]

Great and big thanx

[@leopard6554]

Thank you for another great video. I used ILS in different airports and some of them were surrounded by mountains. I think the altitude affects the ILS signals. Do you need a higher altitud for detecting signals from ILS in the airports that surrounded by mountains?

[@Kyrelel]

Yes :)

[@Bjatc1]

Excellent video. Didn't have your markers activated and they are a big part of the ILS.

[@sunilkumar-ld2lw]

great tutorial very helpful

[@Doofer911]

Thanks Sunil, glad you liked it!