ATC pattern entry instructions - ATC left me hanging!

[EHM-X2J Richard]

Hey guys, I'm fairly new to ILS and traffic pattern system (I'm taking a brave step up from the 182 to a 737 :s ).

Now, I use FS 2004 and everything goes fine in my flight... until I reach the approach leg. I use VOR to VOR so ATC carries me right through and gives my my headings etc. But for some reason, before I can even establish with the localizer, I'm told to "make straight in" and nothing else. I wanted to keep flying until further instructions, but I seemed to keep flying with no further contact.

I'm not sure whether I should enter the typical race track pattern, or enter some sort of specialised pattern? I'm using Barajas in Madrid as my example.

Can anyone fill me in as to what pattern I can fly, or what I need to do until ATC clears me to land and decides to let me decend to the point that I can hook up with the Localizer?

Any responses would be very much appreciated ^^

(P.S. I tried to declare a missed approach once and ATC cleared me to land about 20 minutes later, so I'm definitely doing something wrong, I just don't know what) :$

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

I assume you are using FS 2004 ATC. To get approach instructions and vectors from ATC you have to have a FS 2004 flightplan loaded, then ATC will direct you to the localiser intercept heading, with the runway heading set with the course selector and both the Nav radios set to the localiser frequency, press the Loc button and the aircraft will turn onto the runway heading when it intercepts the localiser, then press the App button, and select the second autopilot  the aircraft will commence an autoland, you can take over the landing at any point by disconnecting the autopilot. Hopr this helps.

[EHM-1001 Robert]

Well,

if you fly VOR to VOR, I think it is similar to a VFR flight for the inbuilt ATC. I mean the message "Fly straight in" means nothing else that you are no more than 30 degrees from the runway heading. So, if you prepare for the landing (visual, or instrumental) you can do a straight landing, you do not need to do any patterns.

If you are more than 30 degrees from the runway heading, the ATC will use an expression like: "Make left base" or "Make right base" which means, that you will find yourself in front of the runway with a final left turn, or a right turn.

After that, if you reach within around 5 miles from the touchdown point, ATC will give you the final message: "Cleared to land"

[EHM-X2J Richard]

Thanks a million guys, that really helped - I appreciate it.  

I thought about approaching VFR after ATC said "Make straight in" but I couldn't understand why I wouldn't be asked to enter a pattern, I mean, Barajas is a pretty busy airport, and my air traffic frequency is up full. I guess this threw me off.

(With regards to Autoland, would I be right in presuming this is only a FS2004 feature and not actually found in real Aircraft?)

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

Autoland is available in modern airliners, although it's use may be regulated by the airline. To carry out a full autoland, the ILS facility at the destination airport must support a Cat III  ILS, Cat I and Cat II ILS approaches will take you down to a few hundred feet then you should manually fly the final stages of the landing. If you go to the following URL it gives the various Categories of ILS.
 http://avsim.com/geoffschool/airlinecourse/ilscats.htm

Edited by Murray on behalf of Bruce

[EHM-0001 Gergely]

Hi,

you will get a 'straight in' e.g. when your heading is ~300 and active runway is 30. You will need to fly pattern only if the other runway is active, i.e. runway 12.

About approach types: make sure that in the Flight Planning you selected IFR. On and IFR flight you will be instructed for an instrument approach, f.i. ILS. It seems you are now flying VFR.

Gergely