Lesson 02 · Free Fundamentals · ILS fundamentals

Don’t Chase the Needle

Read the trend before making the correction

Level: Fundamentals
Estimated time: 10 minutes
Access: Free

An ILS indication shows relationship and trend. A calm correction begins with understanding which way the desired path lies.

Important. For hobby flight simulation only — not real-world flight or ground instruction, operational guidance, or a flight-planning tool.

CUE is a recreational consumer-simulation product. It is not FAA-approved training, certification preparation, medical advice, an aircraft operating manual, or a substitute for current regulations and guidance, official charts and weather, an approved AFM/POH, aircraft checklists, air traffic control instructions, or instruction from an appropriately qualified professional. Never use CUE to operate, dispatch, maintain, diagnose, or make decisions concerning an actual aircraft. Simulated aircraft, controls, avionics, weather, traffic, navigation data, and procedures may be simplified, incomplete, inaccurate, or obsolete and may differ materially from real equipment and current requirements. Completion confers no certificate, endorsement, currency, proficiency, authorization, or qualification. Real-world aviation can cause serious injury, death, and property loss. Use current authoritative sources and qualified professionals for any actual aviation activity.

Before you make the call

What you will learn

Distinguish the aircraft’s position from the displayed ILS path.
Use small corrections and observe the resulting trend.
Recognize when deviation or unreliable guidance requires an escape plan.

This scenario uses a conventional glideslope deviation indication during a manually flown ILS, or a mode in which you are responsible for vertical-path control. It is not an instruction to push against an autopilot that is already tracking the glideslope. Check the active mode before deciding how to act.

Before using the indication, confirm the intended ILS source, identification, approach course, and absence of invalid flags. A centered indicator from the wrong source is not useful guidance. Your aircraft may use a diamond, pointer, or other symbol; identify the deviation scale in its manual.

For hobby flight simulation only — not real-world flight or ground instruction, operational guidance, or a flight-planning tool. Use your simulator aircraft’s documentation for settings and procedures.