There are two different indications given by the ILS: a horizontal and a vertical indication. This system uses radio waves, emitted on different frequencies that the plane can “hear” and with that know if it is in the correct position.
It works by providing two information to the pilots when they are doing their final approach indicating them the correct flight path to take to land correctly on the runway. This system is quite self-explanatory it is a system used to land using instruments (understand without visual information). We are going to talk about a very useful tool, the Instrument Landing System. For a few decades now, most airplanes that are allowed to fly IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) use all sorts of aids in order to land during bad conditions. And after the war, when airmail services started being created, the same issue had to be solved.Īirplanes going faster and faster, flying higher and higher, being more and more technical, it was needed to fit them with something that could allow flying in a wider range of conditions.įirst, they had radios, to get help from people on the ground lights were fitted on the runways to be able to show them to the pilots during night or low visibility flights.
But this was an issue that had to be solved.ĭuring WWI, there was an urge to be able to take-off at any time, whatever the conditions the war doesn’t wait for good weather.
The early day pilots didn’t have much of a choice on how to deal with this: in case of bad weather or conditions, they simply wouldn’t take-off and fly.