No ATC available? How to VECTOR YOURSELF onto an APPROACH | Real Airline Pilot

[@jedielsondafonseca6338]

It's amazing how people like you are willing to share such great knowledge for free. Thank you Emmanuel!

[@Fly737]

Wow, what an enlightening weekend it has been for me! This video truly filled the gaps in my understanding of flight simulation. Now, everything makes sense, and I'm incredibly grateful for the newfound clarity and knowledge. Thank you so much!

[@A330Driver]

I'm very happy to hear that, thank you!

[@yellowaviation1213]

Thank you, Emi! "Self-vectoring" was a thing I always tried to avoid, because it was way too complicated. Now I know more)

[@waareagle3691]

As a former controller, I just wanted to affirm that everything you shared is "spot-on" (as usual). In the U.S. (and I assume everywhere else), it's required to have the aircraft established on the final at least 1 mile outside the "approach gate" (which is normally a mile outside the FAF or glideslope intercept)... so 2 miles outside the Final Approach Fix. Anything tighter requires us to ask and receive pilot approval; but even then, intercept must occur no later than the FAF. For downwind arrivals at busy airports (per your example), you'll normally stay pretty high (~10,000ish) until abeam the airport so departures can be tunneled underneath. For the turn to final, 30 degrees is the maximum intercept angle; but that also depends on the wind... with a stiff headwind on base, aim for 35-40 degrees; with a tailwind, around 20 degrees. The Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) is almost always lower than the charts; but as you mentioned, it's not always publicly available... so use your best judgment.

[@duckysyn]

Extremely helpful thank you, I always panic a little when I have to do it myself but at least I now know what I'm doing

[@67natanael]

Thank you sooo much ! I asked myself the same question while doing this exact approach, and you know provideed me with an answer. Great video as always !

[@alphabravo4402]

Thank you Emmanuel for understanding that many of us flight simmers are not flying in Vatsim

[@NanookOblivion]

Superb! Thank you so much for sharing all that knowledge on a free platform! Really helps out a lot. Just noted that down as well since I’d been always struggling with vectoring my self when I had a “MANUAL” waypoint. Great video!

[@paulhadley9047]

Too complex for me at the moment, but I fully understood the process. So I'm grateful for the extra detail.

[@ITMann]

Extremely interesting, and very helpful. Further insights and immersion for us all. Much appreciated. Thank you. It is a lot to take in at first, but by taking small steps in our understanding, it all becomes clear. So much to learn, but thats the fun aspect too.

[@geardownandlocked]

Great video, as always!

[@PilotStudd]

Insightful as always, thanks mate!

[@GG_Booboo]

Thank you Emmanuel!!! Great stuff!

[@kwasigrayjr6891]

Wow thanks for making the video. I just used to vector myself by just changing the heading to final

[@dolf1010]

Thank you Emanuel ! Great lesson ,I will try to use it. 👍

[@jhallock]

Another fantastic and insightful video, this channel is really blowing up the last few weeks! I do have one question for the community though, is it just me or does anyone else agree that the background sounds from the plane are a bit too high? I'm trying to focus on the dialogue and keep getting distracted by the ambient sound

[@andrevdw747]

Thanks!

[@Gardzilla]

Another great video....thanks

[@jincyayrattu6606]

Tnx Capt❤

[@grandgta5]

The video I needed. Thank you emi!

[@captain_fox]

Amazing! Thanks!

[@petrkopecky737]

Thank you! That's what I needed to know.

[@brianprice7812]

Nice! Great tips!

[@sky173]

Another great video. I'm just getting involved in VATSIM and so far it's been a really fun, learning experience. I've always been curious if there are rules regarding how far ATC can send you on downwind approach before they have to place you into an approach hold if it's too busy. Thanks for all the useful information.

[@KingBobsKingdom]

Great info. I have been doing this more often since I have been getting flight plans that have a manual leg then a discontinuity before the base/final. I used to just clear both but I seem to remember a vid from you saying don't always just clear out those manual/discontinuities. Just was never sure of where to start those vectors and at what speed. I'll be a virtual A320 pilot before you know it!!!

[@haakonaarhus5352]

Is There any chance you would film a typical day in the sky IRL ? Love the content

[@fly320YT]

Super Video! Thank you 🎉

[@cmaylo]

Did something happen to your microphone? It sounds less clear than usual. Thanks for the video, you’ve greatly expanded my knowledge and thus enjoyment of the sim with your frequent and knowledgeable uploads.

[@parthiv7084]

why does the country of the airport matter when it comes to ATC vectoring you into the final approach fix? You mentioned that non-first world countries typically would vector you 5 miles out or "inefficiently." Great video!

[@JoeDFWAviation]

I’m guilty of cutting myself too close to the localizer sometimes, making it hard to intercept before the glideslope. In a mainline aircraft (737, A320, etc) I like to fly to an approach fix first. In smaller aircraft (CRJ, CJ4, ATR, etc) they make you switch nav sources so I don’t always go to an approach fix. I’d rather switch to ILS mode then vector myself to the localizer.

[@JoeDFWAviation]

I just finished the video, very useful information, thank you!

[@grumpybandit]

May I ask how you get the green circle guides around airports on your mfd map?

[@milesy35]

I'm in a Cessna 172 and really struggling with the speeds you suggest.

[@joshfredr7846]

hi, how do you create these most helpful green circles ? Thank you so much for these videos!

[@A330Driver]

Hi, first of all: Thank you! Secondly, you can create those on the fix page. Enter the fix, put / and the distance (ie /10) into line 2-4. My 737 tutorial series explains all these things in detail!

[@Marc1999th]

One big question that I always have in my mind when I read about vectors to final etc: WHY do I not just fly a STAR? Or is it in real life normal that you fly a STAR and the Tower wants you to land earlier so you intercept the final approach course earlier? I always thought STARs are there because than you don’t have to handle the landing process yourself..😂

[@Marc1999th]

Did you fly a STAR before you intercepted in this video? I guess so because you already had some waypoints in front of you

[@waareagle3691]

In some situations, you may fly the whole STAR; but it's more typical that the controller will vector you off the STAR to join the final approach course earlier. Approach controllers usually want you on the ground as soon as possible (it's one less aircraft for them to worry about 🙂).

[@jb894]

What are my vectors Victor?

[@mitthraw9934]

Danke für dieses großartige Video. Inhaltlich sehr wertvoll, weil ich diese Situationen selbst nie so geliebt und eher gemieden habe. Aber eine Bitte...dein Mikro ist wirklich ne Blechbüchse...Sprachverständlichkeit ist leider nicht so gegeben und macht es gerade mit den lauten Hintergrundgeräuschen des Sims unschön, einfach zuzuhören. Vielleicht besteht ja der Plan, da mal was zu machen?! :-) Ansonsten vielen Dank für deine Arbeit und das neben deiner RICHTIGEN Arbeit! Super 🙂

[@stfosteeeen5588]

yes works fine in RL. On Vatsim it leads to a horror. Had to go around last time because of non vacated runways and overloaded approach on the 25L. Result 30min late for lunch... Please people I know its a game open for all the "gamers" but don't go on very busy airports when you can not intercept an ILS correctly. My wife thanks you

[@A330Driver]

LOL

[@Alex_Smith98]

What happened to your microphone?

[@A330Driver]

Sometimes, when recording on my laptop, it seems that there's sound issues. I have no idea why, I'm using the same mic on my laptop that I also use on my desktop.

[@carl626]

Your intro is a P/A. 😂

[@jikstar3212]

Audio quality is getting worse and worse, a good mic doesn't need to be expensive