Instrument landing system

An instrument landing system (ILS) is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), such as low ceilings or reduced visibility due to fog, rain, or blowing snow.

Brief description

The ILS usually consists of a Localizer, Glide Path, and Markers(OM, MM, & IM).

Localizer: This equipment provides lateral guidance to the runway centreline from about 5nm out.(five nautical miles).

Glide Path: This equipment provides the aircraft with a glide angle - usually 3 degrees. The Localizer and Glide Path combine to bring the aircraft to a point where the aircraft is 50 feet high at the runway threshold (decision point).

Markers:
1. The Outer Marker at approximately 5nm helps the a/c adjust its course and height.
2. The Middle Marker is located at approximately 3500 feet and used similarly.
3. The Inner Maker at 1000 feet is used only for Category II operations.

Exceptions:
There are always exceptions and here are some main exceptions.
1. DME & GP (Distance Measuring Equipment & Glide Path) when it is impossible to have Markers.
2. DME & Localizer when there is no GP for whatever reason.
3. Offset Localizer. In this case the Localizer is not on the runway centreline, but offset and lined up to bring the aircraft over the threshold at decision height. Decision height is 50 feet at threshold.

Double Check Your FMS and the GPS Waypoints

Want to be a pilot? Think twice, then think again!

The desire to fly high is in all of us whatever field we may choose. However, when it comes to becoming a pilot in India , the road is a very bumpy one.

Darius Moose* graduated in science and then decided to become a pilot. He wanted to go to the USA and learn to fly. So he applied to one of the many pilot training schools there and they sent him a letter stating that he had been admitted. He filled in an I-20 form for which he paid $500 (approx Rs 23,000).

He paid $43,000 (approx Rs 20 lakh) as school fees for the entire course. He was told that accommodation, travel from school to the hostel and food was included in this fee. And so he left for the States, confident that he would return after the six-month course qualified to fly. But things weren't as simple as they seemed.

The first shock he received was when he reached the States and the promised transport was not available. The distance from his hostel to the air field was 4 km. "Public transport in that part of the States is pathetic and so I had to rent a car for $500 a month. The legal formalities to buy a car there are too many," he says.

Fatigue and flight operations

Fatigue is a threat to aviation safety because of the impairments in alertness and performance it creates. "Fatigue" is defined as "a non-pathologic state resulting in a decreased ability to maintain function or workload due to mental or physical stress." The term used to describe a range of experiences from sleepy, or tired, to exhausted. There are two major physiological phenomena that have been demonstrated to create fatigue: sleep loss and circadian rhythm disruption. Fatigue is a normal response to many conditions common to flight operations because of sleep loss, shift work, and long duty cycles. It has significant physiological and performance consequences because it is essential that all flight crew members remain alert and contribute to flight safety by their actions, observations and communications. The only effective treatment for fatigue is adequate sleep (1).

In a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety study of US major carrier accidents involving flight crew from 1978 to 1990, one finding directly addressed the concern about fatigue. It stated: "Half the captains for whom data were available had been awake for more than 12 hours prior to their accidents. Half the first officers had been awake for more than 11 hours. Crews comprising captains and first officers whose time since awake was above the median for their crew position made more errors overall, and significantly more procedural and tactical decision errors (2)."

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) False Target due to improper suppression circuitry interface. 

An operator reported a high rate of “false target” displayed on TCAS system. The “false target”, either a resolution advisory (RA) symbol or a traffic advisory (TA) symbol, would be displayed on the “nose” of the airplane symbol on the electronic horizontal situation indicator (EHSI). 

 Everybody thinks that all airmen have a great life but it's not true. All we know the difficulties we are facing day by day. As an helicopter Pilot i am facing trouble to get a decent job, all we know the worldwide crysis and the results of this in the industry.

I would like to hear others points of view of you guys, I'm from Nicaragua and I hold and ICAO CPHL rated in B-205 and Mi-17 Rotorcrafts. ICAO English Proficiency Level V.

Best Regards for everybody and i wish you great flights.

Yours sincerely;

JB.

First you need to have a a computer number. To obtain the computer number click here to download the form. Mail this form to the following address
DIRECTOR OF AIRWORTHINESS (CEO)O/O THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION EAST BLOCK-III, R.K. PURAM, NEW DELHI-110066

After you obtain the computer number you can now answere exams. But keep in mind you also need to have class 1 medical done for converting your foreign license.

To obtain a class 1 medical you need to have a class 2 medical first.

When it comes to getting your PILOT LICENSE
and are allowed to take aircraft off the face of planet earth, you should be well prepared to get through what is by any estimation a pretty tough training period because you will be responsible for the lives of others when you reach your goal as an aircraft pilot.

So should go into it with a good supply of determination and patience, you should working as hard as you need to and don't accept any shortcuts but try the best so you come out of that training the best of the best as well. Then not only do you come away with the license, you come way fully prepared for anything once you get in the pilots seat of an airplane. You will be glad you had high standards when it comes to the pilots training you get.