Question

On the LOC/DME BC Runway 27 at Escanaba, MI (KESC), the localizer front course direction of 94 degrees is shown. Of what possible use could this information be to a pilot flying this back course approach?

1) Setting an HSI to the front course setting will result in ordinary (rather than reverse) sensing, making the approach easier to fly.
2) It has no relevance to this approach, or any other back course approach in the U.S.
3) It is helpful guidance in the event of a missed approach after reaching the MDA on this approach.
4) It is the radial of the ESC VOR that most closely parallels the localizer course.

Answer 1

The front course direction of the localizer in a back course approach at Escanaba, MI (KESC) is useful for setting the HSI to the front course, making the approach easier to fly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The front course direction is useful for setting an HSI to result in ordinary sensing during a back course approach, aiding the pilot with intuitive guidance.

The question pertains to the LOC/DME BC Runway 27 approach at Escanaba, MI (KESC) and the utility of knowing the localizer front course direction of 94 degrees while flying this back course approach. The correct answer is option 1, which states: Setting an Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) to the front course setting will result in ordinary (rather than reverse) sensing, making the approach easier to fly. This information is useful because the HSI can be set to the front course heading, which will display course deviation in a way that is intuitive to the pilot, as opposed to the traditional VOR indicator that would provide reverse sensing on a back course approach. This assists the pilot in maintaining proper alignment with the approach path without having to mentally invert the instrument indications.

The subject of this question is Advanced Placement (AP) and the grade is High School.

The relevant information for a pilot flying the LOC/DME BC Runway 27 back course approach at Escanaba, MI (KESC) is that the localizer front course direction is shown as 94 degrees. This information is useful for setting an HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator) to the front course setting, which results in ordinary (rather than reverse) sensing, making the approach easier to fly. Therefore, option 1 is correct.

Options 2 and 3 are incorrect. The information is not irrelevant to this approach, and it is not specific to missed approach guidance after reaching the MDA (Minimum Descent Altitude).

Option 4 is also incorrect. The localizer course is not directly related to the radial of the ESC VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) that most closely parallels it.