What is the meaning of a glide slope?

What is the meaning of a glide slope?

Definition of glide slope 1 : the proper path of descent for an aircraft preparing to land especially : such a path indicated by a radio beam. 2 : the radio beam that marks a glide slope.

What does glide slope information tell the pilot?

A glide slope provides vertical (up/down) guidance toward the runway touchdown point, usually at a 3° slope. Marker beacons provide range information along the approach path. Approach lights assist in the transition from instrument to visual flight.

What is glide path in aviation?

Instrument landing system glide path, commonly referred to as a glide path (G/P) or glide slope (G/S), is “a system of vertical guidance embodied in the instrument landing system which indicates the vertical deviation of the aircraft from its optimum path of descent”, according to Article 1.106 of the ITU Radio …

Where is the glide slope antenna located?

The glide slope is normally positioned 1000 feet after the approach end of the runway and operates in the 328.6–335.4 MHz band. Marker beacons operating along the extension of the runway centerline at 75 MHz are used to indicate decision height points for the approach or distance to the threshold of the runway.

What is the glide slope frequency?

Glide Slope/Glide Path The UHF glide slope transmitter, operating on one of the 40 ILS channels within the frequency range 329.15 MHz, to 335.00 MHz radiates its signals in the direction of the localizer front course. The term “glide path” means that portion of the glide slope that intersects the localizer.

What does localizer information tell the pilot?

A flight director only shows how the autopilot would fly. If the localizer dot (or arrow) indicate runway is to be found to the left, but the flight director suggests a right turn, and the runway isn’t visible, then the pilot in command is having difficulties.

Where is the glide slope located?

The glideslope scale is located to the right of the attitude sphere. On aircraft which have a mechanical gyro compass are both the localizer and glideslope indicated as a vertical and a horizontal arrow in the compass as well.

What is the required descent rate to maintain the glideslope?

Everyone knows that the required descent rate to maintain the glideslope depends on the groundspeed. For most of us general aviation pilots that’s about 400 to 500 FPM. So it’s a simple fact that if the vertical speed indicator goes to 1000 feet per minute down, we’ll be below the glide path in a few seconds.

Why is the pilot unhappy when he is gliding?

And if that’s all the pilot pays attention to he is happy, but it’s obvious that in a few seconds he is going to be unhappy because he will soon be above the glideslope. Then it will take two adjustments to get back on: One to get back to the glidepath, and a second one to reestablish a steady descent.

Is the glideslope needle still centered?

At that moment the glideslope needle is still centered. And if that’s all the pilot pays attention to he is happy, but it’s obvious that in a few seconds he is going to be unhappy because he will soon be above the glideslope.

How do you get back on a glideslope?

Then it will take two adjustments to get back on: One to get back to the glidepath, and a second one to reestablish a steady descent. If the pilot instead pays more attention to the vertical speed indicator it predicts a deviation from the glide path before it happens and can be fixed before ever leaving the glideslope.