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Can you legally load an ILS approach into the GPS to fly a LOC approach (DME readout only)?

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FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Instrument Rating

For example, at my local airport (KEWB) we have an ILS or LOC RWY 5 (link included), and I was told that in order to legally fly the LOC RWY 5 you need to enter the destination as IEWB into the GPS for the proper DME readout since we do not have DME.  LOC RWY 5 is not provided in the GPS database. Why would it be illegal (if it is) to load the approach as an ILS 5 approach and identify WIDON with the ATD readout?  I am preparing for my CFII checkride and would appreciate if someone could clarify this for me with proper reference. Thank you in advance. 

http://155.178.201.160/d-tpp/1709/00644IL5.PDF

5 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Sep 04, 2017

    Have you loaded the ILS 5 in your GPS to see if WIDON is included? That’s a serious question and might be part of the answer to yours.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Sep 04, 2017

    In case I misunderstood you post, where is the localizer transmitter in that airport compared with the runway waypoint?

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  3. Edilson Gomes on Sep 04, 2017

    If you load the ILS 5, WIDON is not shown since its not part of the approach. However, you can still identify it by using the ATD readout. The localizer antenna is at the end of runway 5.

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  4. Wes Beard on Sep 05, 2017

    Most GPS or FMS databases do not include any waypoints between the FAF and MAP for ILS approaches. Most databases will include all waypoints for a localizer based approach.

    If you were to load the ILS RWY 5 into the GPS, WIDON intersection is not expected to be there. Therefore, you cannot use the along track distance to figure out where WIDON is.

    You have a couple of options though. Input the IEWS frequency code into the GPS and use the GPS as a DME. The other option is to go direct WIDON to identify the fix. More info… read AIM 1-2-3 and AC 90-109.

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  5. Best Answer


    Mark Kolber on Sep 06, 2017

    Wes, I suspect he is talking about using the ATD located at the very bottom of the Profile View, displaying distances from various points to the runway, which is in the GPS database as a waypoint. (WIDON is 2.1 NM based on the profile view.

    Doing that is clearly permitted on RNAV(GPS) approaches [See AIM 1-1-17.b.5(13)]

    But AFAIK, FAA official guidance on ATD uniformly talks about RNAV approaches. It is silent on whether or not that method may be used for a LOC approach.

    I made an inquiry or two and understand (but can’t confirm) the “consensus” is it’s OK, but I would hesitate using it on a checkride without first discussing it with the DPE.

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