The C414 autopilot (GNS530 panel version) doesn’t follow the localizer in LOC only approaches. I set the correct frequency and course (I also check the GNS530 to verify the identifier), OBS set to VLOC, the localizer is alive when turning final, I hit NAV to make the autopilot follow the localizer… but nothing happens. The button stays off, doesn’t illuminate and the plane overshoots the LOC, forcing me to use HDG mode to “manually” capture it back.
NAV mode of the autopilot works well with VOR navigation, ILS approaches and GPS tracking, but the LOC only seems to be broken (at least for me).
Tried in two airports with LOC only approaches: Pampulha (SBBH, Brazil) and Danbury (KDXR, United States). Same results in both.
EDIT: Oh, you just mean LOC approaches. Not ILS with vertical guidance. Gotta try that tomorrow.
ORIGINAL POST:
Just tried it at MAAN. Worked flawlessly with the ILS frequency on NAV1 intercepting at a 45° angle (notice my heading bug), capturing the glideslope and everything.
This might be another one of those mod conflict cases. Just to make sure you should remove all other addons from the community folder and try just the 414 and see if it works then.
If it does, add other addons one by one until you find the one that is the culprit. It’s tedious but might be the only way to get to the bottom of this.
Approach mode arms both the LOC and GS. If they are not available they obviously won’t capture. As suggested above try using APR mode not NAV. NAV is primarily for enroute stuff.
Right, probably you already tried this, but was the localizer tuned in Nav 1? The Nav 2 annunciator is illuminated. Not uncommon in older avionics to have only one nav radio with a localizer receiver, I seem to recall, but not sure that is relevant to the 414 model here. I should have taken it out for a spin today, one of my top favorites in MSFS.
GOOD NEWS! I managed to set up the A/P to follow the LOC by using CTRL+O (keyboard shortcut already defined to activate LOC). Thanks @Nikita! Your tip worked well!
But it’s odd the need of an key combination/binding to activate this on this plane. I fly it normally with NAV mode in the Carenado Seneca V.
Going off topic now. I have hardware buttons to toggle the common A/P modes, HDG, NAV, LOC, APR, ALT, V/S, FLC, etc. and I have found that they work on a lot of models that have proprietary panels, etc. so I forget some of the idiosyncrasies of our add on aircraft. I just reach for the “MCP” and select, if it works, I don’t think about it. These even work in the new MU-2 with that little a/p buried down there somewhere! I digress, wish you luck with that localizer and good flying! Cheers for now.
That’s a good find. I would suggest popping into FSW’s discord and asking about it. The mode controller visually appears to be accurate to the “Cessna 400B” autopilot that was on 414As from the factory, but I haven’t found a freely available manual for that AP yet. It’s plausible that this AP does not have an APR mode at all (many of the Cessna-branded AP’s did not…cheapo vintage tech, basically).
I have only flown the 414 in the GNS variant a couple times. The vast majority of the time, I fly the GTN variant with the modern Garmin AP.
Oops missed the fact you were using the 530 variant. The GTN panel has a more modern autopilot with an APR button. If I remember correctly when coding those buttons for my C414 Air Manager panels the Nav button activates the APR mode under the cover anyhow to it should be in the correct sim mode based on what it’s receiving.
I’ll give those 2 airports you listed a try when I get time to see if anything different happens for me.
Make sure that you cycle the CDI mode between VLOC and GPS a couple of times. There is a little bug there that can prevent the guided navigation from working properly if you don’t.
It has been a long time since I have touched a 400 series A/P IRL and I recall that there were annunciators that were not also selectors or buttons. These must be those. I believe that they did a good/accurate job modeling this, best I can recollect. One thing I like about MSFS is that while we can enjoy authentic/realistic models, there are also many controller/keyboard/key bind shortcuts we can also use at the same time. Heaven forbid no electric trim switch on the yoke or stick! We can enjoy the realistic look & function while also customizing our sim to make up for the fact that it is in fact a sim. All good!
I never bothered to track it down, but I think it’s the state the plane initialises in. It’s like the NAV/GPS button starts up in a third state that doesn’t work right until you flip it the first time.
Thanks all for posting about that GPS/NAV button behavior! I have been dealing with that bit for so long I forgot it’s a thing! Have been caught out on approach missing that button press asking myself why did I just fly through the localizer, or whatnot. I put that button press on my preflight checklist for most aircraft, GPS/NAV, to make sure it will be showing what I will be looking for after T/O LOL! Great conversation!
