Anflugslinie

Anflugslinie is a term from German aviation terminology that refers to an established line or path that aircraft must follow during the final phase of landing on a runway. The line is usually defined by the intersection of a lateral guidance system, such as an Instrument Landing System (ILS) localizer or a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI), and a vertical approach path that is typically set at a 3‑5 degree glide slope. The combination of the horizontal and vertical cues provides pilots with both heading and descent angle information, enabling a stable approach.

Operationally the Anflugslinie is used by air traffic controllers to specify the exact approach path that aircraft should maintain while aligning with the runway centerline. Controllers will often instruct aircraft “maintain the 3 degree approach line to the end of the approach segment” and then “transition to the runway centerline.” In this way the Anflugslinie ensures that aircraft arrive at the runway threshold with the correct attitude and alignment for a safe touchdown.

The concept is similar to the international terminology for approach lanes or approach zones. In some German-speaking regions it can be seen in VFR (visual flight rules) procedures, where pilots are advised to approach along a visual line that has been charted on local aeronautical charts. There, the Anflugslinie is simply a legacy term for a line that guides aircraft visually, rather than a fixed instrument approach.

Regulatory frameworks, such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency guidelines and the German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) standards, enforce the use of defined approach lines for all IFR (instrument flight rules) operations. The use of the Anflugslinie is mandatory for instrument approaches, ensuring consistency across European airspace and compatibility with ATC procedures.

In summary, Anflugslinie serves as a certified reference line for pilots to follow during the approach phase of flight. It is defined by lateral and vertical guidance aids, used by controllers for all IFR procedures, and is integrated into regulatory standards to maintain safety and uniformity for aircraft approaching runways.