Can Standard VOR approaches be Coupled?
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I have been enjoying learning the systems and procedures of the Starship. Today I loaded up a VOR approach for my destination and used the following procedures:
- Tuned the VOR
- Set the inbound course to match the plate
- Set the NAV source to VOR
- Manually intercepted the radial
- Selected NAV on the AP
The aircraft flew right through the radial and did not capture. I ended up flying the approach manually. Shouldn't the AP be able to couple to a VOR?
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This should work exactly as you describe. I implemented some fixes related to VOR/LOC approaches in the latest (unreleased) version, but those should only affect the approach autopilot mode, not the NAV mode. A video of this one might help, or perhaps someone else will chime in with an idea.
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A quick glance over in the POH and at first it wasn't clear also meant VOR radials, or only CDU computed courses. However, the last sentence, "Dead reckoning (DR) is annunciated during station passage." pretty much confirms it for me that indeed it can also capture a station/radial. POH p. 3-309
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This should work exactly as you describe. I implemented some fixes related to VOR/LOC approaches in the latest (unreleased) version, but those should only affect the approach autopilot mode, not the NAV mode. A video of this one might help, or perhaps someone else will chime in with an idea.
@Black-Square You mention "approach autopilot" mode fixes. The only non-GPS approach operations I've seen an AP couple with (APPR) is a localizer or ILS approach.
Whenever I've wanted to couple to a VOR I've needed to use NAV mode, correct?
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That's correct. Approach autopilot mode should work too, but it uses different control laws than NAV mode, which may be undesirable. I'm happy to clarify your questions further, but don't overthink this one. As long as your radios are tuned correctly, and the correct navigation source is selected on the CDU, NAV mode should intercept the radial.
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That's correct. Approach autopilot mode should work too, but it uses different control laws than NAV mode, which may be undesirable. I'm happy to clarify your questions further, but don't overthink this one. As long as your radios are tuned correctly, and the correct navigation source is selected on the CDU, NAV mode should intercept the radial.
@Black-Square I shot another VOR approach today - this time the AP coupled. No change in procedure, it just worked this time.
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I've had another AP coupled VOR approach fail. This approach had a standard teardrop intercept, so I set NAV2 on the outbound radial and NAV1 to the inbound radial. As I approached the IAF I activated NAV2 as the source and pressed NAV. She coupled to the outbound radial and flew it beautifully,
Using HDG mode at the completion of the outbound I set up a standard 30-degree intercept to the inbound radial, changed the Nav source to VOR1 and pressed NAV. It flew right through the radial without intercepting, so I finished the approach manually.
