IFR Training - capturing the localizer

[JAFI]

If you only let your student fly at shallow standard rate turns, they never learn or are able to handle steep turns in IMC. Not good exposure. Of coruse, inthe system day to day, one should not make it a habit of such angles. I think you understand what Im getting at here.

I agree BUT, it depends on the ability of the student and where they are in their training. Start them out walking before they run..... And keep a good supply of barf bags just in case......

 

[satpak77]

For IFR Training if a student misjudges his position and the localizer needle suddenly comes alive and swings do you encourage him to make a sharp turn and keep the localizer active or is that too risky.

We were having a debate with two CFIs - both had valid points of views.
One said that in actual conditions the most important thing is not to lose the localizer while the other stated that you want to avoid a sharp turn in such a scenario as you are too desparate to keep the localizer and thus might actually make too sharp a turn inadvertently.

Your thoughts?

Based on the original post, I think the best course is to re-intercept the LOC. Now, big picture IFR training ? Yes, exposure to unusual attitudes and steep turns, banks, etc under the hood can only be beneficial. HOWEVER ! The "trained respone" to the above scenario should be re-capture the localizor.

 

[livin'thesim]

Definitely do not train over a 30 degree bank.

Under pressure in actual conditions, a pilot may do that reflexively because you permitted it during training. This is the same reason I don't let students land from a bad approach.

It teaches them that good approaches are a separate maneuver from landing, rather than a precondition of landing.


Anyway, the instructor who is worried about LOSING (not "loosing") the localizer has his priorities wrong.

Aviate, navigate, communicate.

Aircraft control takes precedence.

Also, I bet that instructor does not know that most of the time you have at LEAST 4 miles of slop on either side of the localizer as long as you are prior to the FAF (at the PT outbound altitude).


Unless there is terrain at your altitude on the other side of the loc, or traffic on a parallel ILS, a panicky overbank to join will teach all of the wrong things to a student.