EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Confusion; Distraction; Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airport; Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
We lost localizer signal while intercepting DTW RWY 22R which caused us to go past the localizer and got close to RWY 22L. Luckily it was VMC and I was able to maneuver the plane back into the centerline visually. There was another carrier aircraft on final parallel to us. We had conflicting traffic in sight at all times.The 145 has had this localizer issue for the duration of my career. Occasionally the needle will swing and even disappear at times. It's incredible that the aircraft was certified with this type of issue.
The reporter stated that the crew asked ATC if other aircraft were reporting the Localizer anomaly and were told they were the only one. The reporter recalled that certain runways cause more of this type issue than others. DTW 22L; LGA 4 and one of the CHM runways. The compass remained steady during this event. The reporter is not certain what caused this event and even suspects something at the airport may be deflecting the localizer signal.
An EMB-145 Captain intercepting the DTW Runway 22R localizer noted the aircraft overshot the runway centerline because the localizer signal did not center coincidental with the runway centerline. The interference may be a runway specific issue.