AIRBUS LANDING WITHOUT STAR

[AF330]

Hi
When we land with Airbus without any STAR, how does the plane align us with the runway? Does the plane have approach charts already in the MCDU? For example you are at the end of an airway and the airport is just on your right. You don't have any STAR (so there is no help to reach the FAF). The only approach available is VOR/DME and the station is on your right: Does the plane directly turn towards the VOR station to align with the runway or will it follow the path written on the charts for this approach (in this case the MCDU knows the charts)
Second question: If the MCDU knows the approach charts, what is the use to enter the course and the frequency of the runway?
Third question: If the plane will directly turn towards the VOR station to align, do the ILS/ VOR/NDB... approach charts are only used after a STAR?

Thanks for your answer!

[Rick777]

Sadly, sometimes the pilot has to actually fly the plane. It is terribly difficult, but a real man can handle it.

[AF330]

Ha ha! Yes, you are right but there are so many airports who don't have STAR, it is just impossible that the pilot has to fly! There must be something automatic!

[RemoveB4Flght]

If there is no published star, or the aircraft does not have a star in it's database there are still ways that a pilot can navigate to an instrument approach.

In this case, the ILS/Localizer/VOR approaches will generally have what is known as a procedure turn, which will be defined on the approach plate. This is a maneuver from a known fix, usually a VOR located on or very near an airport. The plane flies to this fix and then outbound on a radial to a certain distance, then turns to intercept the inbound ILS/Localizer/VOR course.

While some procedure turns are in the navigation database, they can also be flown manually without much difficulty. Typically if there are radar services available, the aircraft will just be vectored to the final approach course, however in a lost comms or non radar environment, a procedure turn will substitute for a standard arrival.

[AF330]

Thank you,
It means that the plane follows the charts and it will if it is an ILS go till the "top" of the glideslop or if it is a VOR, align with the station/ runway and fly a MDA, am I right?

[Amadis of Gaul]

I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself. May I suggest you ask your questions in the French Forum where you may have an easier time?

[737Jock]

No you are wrong. The aircraft doesn't do anything automaticly.

in NAV it follows the route programmed into the computer by the pilot as long as all the route points are connected, if their is no route in this computer it will not follow it.
If the routepoints are not connected, a discontinuity, the aircraft will revert to a basic autopilot mode: Heading or Track depending on pilot input.

A star is nothing different then a bunch of routepoints, the aircraft doesn't know if its on a SID, STAR or in cruise.
So if there is no star, a pilot can build his own route, or use heading or track to follow ATC guidance or fly manually.

Many approaches are coded in the database, and they can be selected. For the computer however these are just another bunch of routepoints.

All the routepoints are contained in a database, which is validated. Anyway an ILS is not flown based on these routepoints but on radiasignals emitted from the ground.

An airbus does not climb or descent automatically without pilot selection.

Before you ask more questions I suggest you first get some more information on the basics of flying. Automatics are hard to understand if you dont know the basics.

[chimbu warrior]

No STAR, no problem, just kick the autopilot out and do a visual approach, weather permitting.

[Cpta320cib]

Funny question overall, but come on guys give AF330 some credit for his age (it says 13). He is most probably more of a Microsoft Flight Sim A330 pilot than being ever closer to an Airbus as on the visitors area of Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport.

And AF330 that is what makes being an airline pilot a wonderful job, flying even A330s, 340s or 380s on visual approaches (or if it has to be, with the AFSs basic modes :cool:) towards your runway. Using automation is still the slave to his master, the pilot :ok:.

Safe flights everybody.