FLT CREW OF SMT MAKES A GAR AT ATL DUE TO THEIR IMPROPER OP OF THE ACFT'S ILS AND GPS SYS. A LACK OF COCKPIT DISCIPLINE IN THE APCH ENVIRONMENT CONTRIBUTED.

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MY CO-CAPT; THE GUY I HAVE FLOWN WITH FOR THE LAST 16 YRS; IS RECOVERING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT. I HAVE HIRED A YOUNG MAN ON A CONTRACT BASIS TO FILL IN. HE AND I ARE ON OUR FIRST IFR FLT AND THE WX IS DOWN AND DIRTY. ATL APCH TURNS US ON THE BASE LEG FOR THE ILS TO RWY 8L. WE DOUBLECHK ALL THE SETTINGS IN PREPARATION FOR THE TURN TO INTERCEPT THE FINAL. THIS IS WHERE I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN THE FLT DIRECTOR FROM THE GPS TO THE #1 LOC. AT THAT MOMENT THE BOSS CALLS AND WANTS TO KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER. ANSWERED HIM AS APCH GIVES A TURN TO INTERCEPT AND DSND. I CALL FOR 1/2 FLAPS AND REACH FOR THE BUTTON AGAIN. MY COPLT LOWERS FULL FLAPS WHILE WE ARE 40 KTS ABOVE THE FLAP SPD. I CATCH IT AND RESET THE FLAPS. HE IS APOLOGIZING FOR THE FLAPS AS I REACH FOR THAT BUTTON AGAIN; AND REALIZE APCH IS TALKING TO US. I RESPOND TO APCH AND NOTICE THAT THE FLT DIRECTOR IS SHOWING A RED FLAG ON THE GS. NOT GOOD! I GLANCE OVER AND SEE THE #2 LOC AND THE GS ON THE COPLT SIDE IS ALIVE AND FUNCTIONING. NO PROB! I THINK; 'I WILL FLY THE #1 LOC AND THE #2 GS.' ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND ALL IS WELL FOR A MOMENT. #1 IS REQUIRING A CORRECTION TO THE R. I CORRECT. LOC DOES NOT CORRECT SO I CORRECT SOME MORE. HERE IS WHERE THE COPLT SAYS; 'DON'T WE NEED TO GO L?' #1 NEEDLE SAYS GO R -- #2 SAYS GO L. IN THE MOMENT WE DEBATED WHICH WAS RIGHT AND I STARTED A TURN L KNOWING THAT THE APCH TO RWY 9R WAS TO OUR R AND AT THAT MOMENT APCH CALLS WITH A FIRM; 'TURN L NOW.' WE BROKE OFF THE APCH AND WENT AROUND. ON THE SECOND APCH; I FLY THE #2 AND WE COMPLETED THE LNDG WITHOUT ANY FURTHER EXCITEMENT. AT XA00 THE NEXT MORNING I SAT UP IN THE BED AND SAID SOMETHING UGLY ABOUT THE 'BUTTON.' #1 WAS NOT BROKEN; AS I HAD DECIDED. IT WAS RESPONDING TO THE GPS; NOT THE LOC FREQ. NOW; THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART. GPS UNITS CAN BE WIRED SO THAT WHEN THE PLT SWITCHES TO THE LOC FREQ THE UNIT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH TO THE LOC. THE MODIFICATION WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED AT OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MAINT STOP. MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER ADDRESSING THIS WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE.