what airports have a localizer back course

by Okey Pollich DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 3 min read

The approach is conducted at John Wayne/Orange County Airport (KSNA) in Santa Ana, California, USA. A localizer back course is just flying on the back side of the localizer to the runway, i.e., if the localizer is intended for runway 28 the back course lets you land on runway 10 instead.

Full Answer

What is a localizer back course in aviation?

A localizer back course is simply flying on the back side of the localizer to the runway. How a localizer works is it sends out two signal lobes: one at 90Hz and the other at 150Hz. The localizer needle in the airplane compares the relative strength it receives from both lobes and then shows a deflection.

Why don’t more airports localize back-course final approaches?

Perhaps because the back course is rarely used, airports are reluctant to spend money installing markers or compass locators. Accordingly, you can expect most localizer back-course final approach fixes to utilize intersections with a nearby VOR rather than NDBs or outer markers.

How do you use a front course localizer off course?

Just as with a normal front-course localizer, the trick when off-course is to make a heading change, HOLD IT and watch for a needle reaction before re-correcting; then, correct again if necessary. Don’t chase the needle with continuous corrections, or you may wind up prescribing a series of S-turns down final.

Where is the localizer on a modern cockpit?

In modern cockpits, the localizer is seen as a colored dot (usually in the shape of a diamond) at the bottom of the artificial horizon gauge. It does not appear during cruise, but comes up during the descent and approach to the selected runway, provided that the navigation radio is set to the ILS frequency of that specific runway.

Where is a localizer back course?

Since the localizer system you're using for the back course is located near the runway threshold, as opposed to the departure end, the missed approach point is farther away from the runway.

Does every localizer have a back course?

Every localizer transmitter radiates a signal in two directions, one being the "front course" and the other is the "back course." For example, an ILS RWY 26 with a centerline heading of 260, the antenna is located at the RWY 8 end of the runway and radiates a front course in the direction of 080 for runway 26.

What is a back course?

The course line along the extended centerline of a runway in the opposite direction to the front course, or the localizer course for an ILS (instrument landing system). For an aircraft to approach the instrument runway from the end on which the localizer antenna is installed, the back course must be flown.

How do you fly a back course with HSI?

5:019:40Flying a Back Course | LOC/DME-E KASE Aspen | Reverse SensingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipCourse rather than chase the needle we need to fly away from or pull the needle by flying. Left ofMoreCourse rather than chase the needle we need to fly away from or pull the needle by flying. Left of the approach. Course.

Does an HSI have reverse sensing?

Reverse sensing occurs on the back course using standard VOR equipment. With a horizontal situation indicator (HSI) system, reverse sensing is eliminated if it is set appropriately to the front course.

How wide is a localizer course?

Localizer (Horizontal Guidance) Localizers have an adjusted course width so that they're 700 feet wide at the runway threshold (full scale fly-left to a full scale fly-right). Two signals are transmitted laterally, one that's 90 Hz and one that's 150 Hz.

What is the difference between ILS and localizer?

An Instrument Landing System is a precision runway approach aid employing two radio beams to provide pilots with vertical and horizontal guidance during the landing approach. The localiser (LOC)provides azimuth guidance, while the glideslope (GS) defines the correct vertical descent profile.

What is back course mode in aviation?

Backcourse is used on runways with a localiser at only one end. If you select backcourse mode you can use the localiser beam from the opposite end for approach guidance. Without the backcourse switch the steering commands would be reversed, directing you away from the beam.

How do you fly a localizer approach?

1:0410:39How To Fly a Localizer Approach | Instrument Flying Part 7 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipApproach because it only provides you with horizontal guidance. So left or right but it doesn'tMoreApproach because it only provides you with horizontal guidance. So left or right but it doesn't provide you any vertical up or down guidance.

What is the difference between HSI and CDI?

A standalone CDI (Course Deviation Indicator) is an instrument that shows your deviation from a VOR radial that is selected using the OBS (Omnibearing Selector) knob located on the instrument itself. An HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) is an entirely separate instrument that combines a CDI and a heading indicator.

When flying a localizer back course approach using an HSI which course should be set in the OBS?

Rule #1. Always (always!) put the localizer inbound front course under the omni-bearing selector (OBS). The OBS setting doesn't matter to the electronics on a localizer, but this is a good rule as we'll see a bit further down.

How do I track my localizer?

9:0710:08Intercepting and Tracking (IFR) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo be sure to set the published course with the course selector knob because of your close proximityMoreSo be sure to set the published course with the course selector knob because of your close proximity to the localizer antenna your intercept angle with a localizer.

Where is the localizer back course?

This video tutorial shows tips to successfully complete a localizer back course (LOC BC) approach in the TBM-930 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. The approach is conducted at John Wayne/Orange County Airport (KSNA) in Santa Ana, California, USA.

What is a back course localizer?

A localizer back course is just flying on the back side of the localizer to the runway, i.e., if the localizer is intended for runway 28 the back course lets you land on runway 10 instead.

What is a localizer in a plane?

An instrument landing system localizer, or simply localizer ( LOC ), is a system of horizontal guidance in the instrument landing system, which is used to guide aircraft along the axis of the runway.

Where are the dangling bars on a plane?

This used two dangling bars, fixed in the middle of the top (localizer indicator) and in the middle of the left side (glideslope indicator), and if the aircraft was located on the intended glidepath, the dangling bars formed a cross. This is, in theory, however, more difficult to learn—but even for pilots experienced with using such indicators, ...

What is the angle between the aircraft heading and localizer beam?

The angle between the aircraft heading and localizer beam should be less than 30 degrees, and the indicated airspeed at least below 250 knots (for jet airliners), then by pushing a button marked "APP" or "ILS", then the autopilot presumably will turn and then follow the localizer.

Where is the glideslope scale located?

The glideslope scale is located to the right of the attitude sphere. On aircraft which have a mechanical gyro compass are both the localizer and glideslope indicated as a vertical and a horizontal arrow in the compass as well. But they are essentially read in the same way.

Where is the marker on the localizer scale?

But if the aircraft is located a little left of the beam, the marker will appear to the right on the localizer gauge scale in cockpit. The pilot then knows he or she must adjust the heading towards the dot. In older cockpits, the localizer scale below the artificial horizon is rather short.

Can an aircraft have an ILS receiver?

An older aircraft without an ILS receiver cannot take advantage of any ILS facilities at any runway, and much more importantly, the most modern aircraft have no use of their ILS instruments at runways which lack ILS facilities. In parts of Africa and Asia large airports may lack any kind of transmitting ILS system.

Do airports have ILS?

In parts of Africa and Asia large airports may lack any kind of transmitting ILS system. Some runways have ILS only in one direction, this can however still be used (with a lower precision) known as back beam or "Back Course" which is not associated with a glide slope .

Which airports are owned by the Los Angeles Basin?

At one time in those questionably halcyon days, the Los Angeles Basin owned four of the 10 busiest airports in America: LAX, Van Nuys, Long Beach and Torrance. The last three were predominately reserved for light aircraft, though Long Beach did have some airline operation.

Where did the Bonanza fly?

Years ago, a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot was flying his Bonanza into Monterey, Calif., in hazy VFR conditions, and decided to simply track the back course to the proximity of the airport from the southwest until he was in close, then join the normal pattern.

Why are runways oriented?

Geographic and political features sometimes make that impractical, but most of the time, runways are oriented to allow pilots to benefit from some slight headwind on landing. Similarly, the prevailing ILS is typically oriented to the longest runway. The implications for instrument students should be obvious.

Is it hard to get a back course exam?

The better news is that it ’s equally difficult for an examiner to gain access to a real, live back-course approach (unless they’re willing to conduct his examination at 6 a.m.), so most of the time, you shouldn’t have to worry about demonstrating your proficiency.

Do controllers have circle to land clearance?

There aren’t many of those procedures in use, and even when they’re available, controllers are more likely to issue a circle-to-land clearance on the standard localizer/ILS. Still, they’re a nuisance we’re sometimes forced to deal with.

Can you fly a glideslope needle backwards?

Sadly, true practice may be difficult or impossible in the real world. There’s frequently no efficient method of practic ing back-course approaches, at least not in an actual airplane.

Overview

Principle of operation

In aviation, a localizer is the lateral component of the instrument landing system (ILS) for the runway centerline when combined with the vertical glide slope, not to be confused with a locator, although both are parts of aviation navigation systems.
A localizer (like a glideslope) requires both a transmitting airport runway system and receiving cockpit instruments. An older aircraft without an ILS receiver cannot take advantage of any ILS f…

Carrier frequency pairings for localizer and glide slope

Localizer (LOC) and glide slope (G/S) carrier frequencies are paired so that the navigation radio automatically tunes the G/S frequency which corresponds to the selected LOC frequency. The LOC signal is in the 110 MHz range while the G/S signal is in the 330 MHz range. LOC carrier frequencies range between 108.10 MHz and 111.95 MHz (with the 100 kHz first decimal digit always odd, so 108.10, 108.15, 108.30, etc., are LOC frequencies and are not used for any other …

Localizer in cockpit

The localizer indicator is (on most aircraft manufactured from the late 1950s) shown below the Attitude Indicator, but is still a part of this instrument together with the glideslope indicator and the cross in the center of the instrument which is called Flight Director.
The glideslope scale is located to the right of the attitude sphere. On aircraft w…

Localizer at runways

When the glideslope is unserviceable, the localizer element can often be conducted as a separate non-precision approach, abbreviated to 'LOC'. A standalone instrument approach installation without an associated glidepath carries the abbreviation 'LLZ'.
In some cases, a course projected by localizer is at an angle to the runway (usually due to obstructions near the airport). It is then referred to as a localizer type directional aid (LDA). The lo…

Specifications

• Course Line (CL) is where difference in the depth of modulation (DDM) is zero in the horizontal plane.
• Course sector (CS) is the sector in the vertical plane bounded by DDM = 0.155.
• Displacement sensitivity (DS) is the change in DDM per meter at ILS reference datum (the runway threshold) and should be 0.00145 (hence CS is 106.9m at threshold).