FAA order targets 787 localiser-capture issues

The FAA is requiring 787 operators to update aircraft flight manuals to include new localiser-approach procedures. The move follows several incidents involving 787s crews experiencing issues during localiser approaches to Hong Kong, and comes after the FAA addressed 787 localiser issues in a 24 September airworthiness bulletin. The agency outlined new required procedures in an airworthiness directive (AD) made public on 3 December. The new procedures call for crew, when conducting localiser-based approaches, to “monitor localiser raw data and call out any significant deviations”, the AD says. “Perform an immediate go-around if the airplane has not intercepted the final approach course as shown by the localiser deviation,” it adds. The AD applies to all three 787 variants and takes effect on 18 December. It responds to reports in which 787 autopilot flight director systems (AFDS) failed to “transition to the instrument landing system localiser beam”, it says.<br/>