FAA Instrument Rating Airplane (IRA)Navigation SystemsEasy
A pilot is flying an ILS approach and notes that the localizer needle is deflected full left. What action should the pilot take to correct this situation?
- ADecrease aircraft altitude to intercept the localizer.
- BTurn left to intercept the localizer course.
- CIncrease aircraft altitude to intercept the localizer.
- DTurn right to intercept the localizer course.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Turn right to intercept the localizer course.
On an ILS localizer, if the needle is deflected to the left, it indicates that the localizer course is to the left of the aircraft. Therefore, the pilot needs to turn right to intercept the course.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Altitude adjustments are for glide slope, not localizer course correction.
- B. Turning left would move the aircraft further away from the localizer course.
- C. Altitude adjustments are for glide slope, not localizer course correction.
ILS Localizer Indication
The horizontal needle on an ILS indicator shows the aircraft's lateral position relative to the runway centerline.
- Needle centered: on localizer course.
- Needle left: localizer course is to the left (turn right).
- Needle right: localizer course is to the right (turn left).
Memory trick: Needle points to the course.