FS

function

Instruments

Associated navaids

Definition

Type of info

Frequencies

Range

(NM)

ADF

Frequency selectors

ADF = radiocompass

RMI

EHSI

NDB

Non Directional Beacon

Omnidirectional (360°) MF radiobeacon which signal (bearing) is to be read on a radiocompass (can also be read on RMI and EHSI).

A NDB has a long range because its purpose is to be a fix for en route navigation. However it may be used as a holding fix or an IAF (Initial Approach Fix).

May be coupled with a DME.

bearing

160-1800 kHz

(Europe 255-525)

100

L

Locator

Similar to NDB with a limited range because its purpose is to be a holding fix or an IAF (Initial Approach Fix) close to airports.

bearing

160-1800 kHz

(Europe 255-525)

25

NAV 1

NAV1

NAV 1

NAV 1

NAV 1

Frequency selectors

CDI 1 (bearing and slope)

HSI

ND / EHSI

PFD / EADI (ILS info)

RMI with VOR 1+2 feature

ILS MKR (OMI)

VOR

VHF Omnidirectional Range

Omnidirectional (360°) VHF radiobeacon which signal (magnetic bearing) is to be read on CDI, HSI, EHSI or RMI.

A VOR has a long range because its purpose is to be a fix for en route navigation. However it may be used as a holding fix or an IAF (Initial Approach Fix).

May be coupled with a DME.

bearing

112-118 MHz

200

T-VOR

Terminal VOR

also called aerodrome VOR

Similar to VOR with a limited range because its purpose is to be a holding fix or an IAF (Initial Approach Fix) close to airports.

May be coupled with a DME.

bearing

108-112 MHz

with even decimal

108.0

108.2

108.4

etc...

25

TACAN

Tactical Air Navigation

Military omnidirectional (360°)  radiobeacon coupled with a DME which signal (magnetic bearing + distance) is to be read on CDI, HSI, EHSI, RMI and distance indicators.

For civilian aircraft, only the distance information is available; this is the case for all FS aircraft, whatever the panel (even a military one; TACAN detection is not supported by FS yet). 

bearing +

distance

112-118 MHZ

960-1200 MHz

Only the VHF frequency can be tuned onboard.

250

ILS

Instrument Landing System

3D landing navaid made of several parts :

- LLZ = localizer, giving position relative to the centerline (left/right info)

- GP = glide path, giving position relative to the slope (low/high info).

- MKR = little beacons called markers (distance info)

=> OM outer marker

=> MM middle marker

=> IM inner marker

. OM at 7200 m, blue signal

. MM at 1050 m, amber signal

. IM at threshold, white signal

Markers signals are read on the OMI or EADI (in addition to sound signals).

LLZ and GP signals are read on CDI, HSI, EHSI and EADI.

Some ILS doesn't have all 3 mkrs (often OM only), and some others have none but are coupled with a DME.

centerline +

glide slope

+ distance

108-112 MHz

with odd decimal

108.1

108.3

108.5

etc...

330-350 MHz

for GP

75 MHz

for MKR

Only the LLZ frequency is tuned onboard, others are automatically tuned.

20-25

LLZ

Localizer

Some airfields can't have a full ILS and have a LLZ only.

It may be coupled with a DME.

centerline

108-112 MHz

with odd decimal

108.1

108.3

108.5

etc...

25

No frequency selector

Distance indicators

RMI with distance indicator

DME

Distance Measuring Equipment

A navaid which gives the oblique distance between an aircraft and the navaid. This navaid is usually not installed alone; it is coupled with a VOR, an ILS... (see below) and the DME frequency is automatically tuned when choosing the coupled navaid frequency.

Info may be shown on distance indicators, on an RMI or an EHSI.

distance

960-1200 MHz

200

Same as above

VORTAC

Combined VOR+TACAN

bearing +

distance

See above

VOR/DME

Combined VOR+DME

bearing +

distance

NDB/DME

Combined NDB+DME

bearing +

distance

ILS/DME

Combined ILS+DME

distance +

centerline +

glide slope

LLZ/DME

Combined LLZ+DME

distance +

centerline

NAV 2

NAV 2

Frequency selectors

CDI 2 (bearing only, no slope)

and also EHSI as for NAV1

RMI

Same as NAV1 except for ILS and LLZ : 

The NAV2 instruments can't read nor show the glide slope information. 

The NAV2 instruments can read the centerline ILS information but just show a bearing.

Other

HUD

Head-Up Display, mainly used into military combat aircraft.

Few FS HUDs may show some NAV/ILS pieces of information. Most of the time, indications are limited to attitude, speed, heading and altitude.

Not available in FS

LORAN

Long Range Air Navigation

geographic

position

100 kHz

1500

OMEGA

Very long distance localization system

geographic

position

10-15 kHz

8000

MLS

Microwave Landing System

centerline +

glide slope

5 GHz

20

FMS (on add-on panels or SB)

Flight Management System

See panel or SB documentation

geographic position

N/A

N/A

INS (not available in FS)

Inertial Navigation System

geographic

position

N/A

N/A

GPS

Satellites

Global Positionning System

Based on a constellation of satellites measuring the distance between the satellite and the receiver. A minimum reception of 4 satellites is necessary for an accurate position indication.

Of course, in FS, things have been adapted and the positionning doesn't result of a satellite reception. 

geographic position + altitude

1575 Mhz

world