For custom and short scenarios only the final part of the approach will be flown simulating VTF. For the full approach scenario the approach will begin right before arriving to the IAF.
If you take a look at the chart, the usual sequence of waypoints is IAF - IF - FAF - Runway. In the full approach you will have to follow this points with the only help of the horizontal guidance* in the LPV indicator. Once you are close enough to the FAF, the GP will be captured and vertical guidance will be available in the LPV indicator.
For VTF approaches, the segment between the FAF and the runway will be extended so the GP can be captured much before. It is used usually in airports with high density of traffic to help the ATC to guide more aircrafts per unit of time thanks to the extra precision provided by EGNOS.
To make it easier, different indications may be shown in the screen depending on which approach you want to fly by pressing G.
If you only want to fly the last leg a green horizontal plane will represent the horizontal full scale and a red vertical plane will represent the vertical full scale. The interception of both planes corresponds the glidepath.
If you are flying a complete approach, a semitransparent blue line will represent the optimal path between the IAF, the IF and the FAF plus the horizontal and vertical planes of the final approach leg.
If you want to fly your customized approach or you want to fly in the scenario with clouds, only a line representing the glidepath may be shown.
A brief explanation is displayed when placing the mouse over any indicator of the screen. Check all of them to make sure you understand how everything works.
Once you are familiar to the controls and indicators, select your desired approach in the Approaches tab.
After that, take a look at the chart, fastean seat belts and press P to start flying.
To create a custom approach, two points are required to calculate the glidepath direction and horizontal situation. With the altitude of the runway and the desired glide path angle the vertical profile of the glidepath will be defined.
The points requested are the LTP and the FPAP. The LTP (Landing Threshold Point) is located right at the start of the runway and the FPAP (Flight Path Alignment Point) is located right in the end of the runway.
To get these points, there are two options:
The altitude can be found with a simple Google search or in any chart of the desired airport.
The usual glide path angle is 3�, but maybe a bigger angle is needed if the obstacles around the runway are too high.