How does a glide slope work?
A glide slope station uses an antenna array sited to one side of the runway touchdown zone. The GS signal is transmitted on a carrier signal using a technique similar to that for the localizer. The centre of the glide slope signal is arranged to define a glide path of approximately 3° above horizontal (ground level).
What is the usable range of the glide slope?
10 NM
The glide slope is normally usable to the distance of 10 NM. However, at some locations, the glide slope has been certified for an extended service volume which exceeds 10 NM. Pilots must be alert when approaching the glidepath interception.
What causes false glide slope?
This is because of a radiation pattern of the antenna and the ground reflection of some of the transmitted energy, resulting in more than one overlapping lobe. The false glide-slopes occur at odd multiples of the true glideslope angle (typically 3°) (i.e., at 9° and 15°).
What does a 3 degree glide slope mean?
300 feet per nautical mile
The rule simply states that a conventional, 3-degree glideslope (normally the optimum vertical profile to use during a landing approach) descends 300 feet per nautical mile. (A steeper 4-degree glideslope descends at 400 feet per mile, and so forth.)
Do pilots still use Morse code?
Morse Codes Originally used in radio telegraphy, Morse code is still widely used in aviation. Pilots are required to understand this and be able to identify aircraft call signs as NDB’s and VOR’s still send their identifying letters by means of Morse code.
How do you calculate the slope of a glide angle?
The flight path intersects the ground at an angle “a” called the glide angle. If we know the distance flown and the altitude change, we can calculate the glide angle using trigonometry. The tangent (tan) of the glide angle (a) is equal to the change in height (h) divided by the distance flown (d).