Typical autopilot modes used on approach?

Typical autopilot modes used on approach?

• A. LNAV only.
• B. LNAV/VNAV and Instrument Landing System (ILS) capture when available.
• C. Altitude hold and heading hold only.
• D. Autoland in all conditions.

Answer: (B)

On approach you want the autopilot to follow the published path with both lateral and vertical guidance. LNAV/VNAV provides that combination, giving lateral navigation plus a vertical descent profile toward the runway. If an ILS is available at the airport, the autopilot can couple to the ILS localizer and glideslope, capturing the precision path automatically. This is what “capture when available” refers to, and it’s the common, reliable way to fly a stabilized approach. Modes like altitude hold or heading hold don’t provide the approach path guidance, and autoland is a special capability not used for every approach or airport. So the typical autopilot modes on approach are LNAV/VNAV and ILS capture when available.

On approach you want the autopilot to follow the published path with both lateral and vertical guidance. LNAV/VNAV provides that combination, giving lateral navigation plus a vertical descent profile toward the runway. If an ILS is available at the airport, the autopilot can couple to the ILS localizer and glideslope, capturing the precision path automatically. This is what “capture when available” refers to, and it’s the common, reliable way to fly a stabilized approach. Modes like altitude hold or heading hold don’t provide the approach path guidance, and autoland is a special capability not used for every approach or airport. So the typical autopilot modes on approach are LNAV/VNAV and ILS capture when available.