Originally Posted by
Check Airman
You know, I've heard anecdotally (no proof whatsoever) that the beams at LAX are "beefed up" so to speak to provide a more reliable signal at a greater distance.
I believe they are frequency protected to a greater distance than customary. This was done in the days before LNAV was common so the localizer could be used out to 50 miles (but not the GS).
Today, modern airplanes should be in LNAV/VNAV until the fix prior to the ILS FAF. (PFAF in FAA-speak these days).