Landingssystem

Landingssystem is a set of equipment, procedures, and standards used to guide an aircraft or spacecraft to a safe landing. In aviation, it provides navigational guidance during the final approach and touchdown, helping pilots or flight control systems align with the runway, control descent, and verify position and altitude in conditions of reduced visibility.

The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is the principal fixed-wing landing aid. It comprises a localizer that provides lateral guidance, a glide slope that provides vertical guidance, distance-measuring equipment, and approach lighting. The ILS is categorized into I, II, and III, with increasing capability for low visibility and in some cases automatic landing (autoland). Satellite-based alternatives include the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) which uses GPS to deliver precision approaches, and SBAS equivalents (such as WAAS in the U.S. and EGNOS in Europe) to improve navigation data and allow precision approaches in broader regions. The Microwave Landing System (MLS) was developed as an alternative to ILS but did not achieve widespread adoption and is largely obsolete.

Regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) specify performance standards, installation requirements, and maintenance regimes for landing systems. Airports implement redundancy, calibration procedures, and regular testing to ensure reliable operation. In some cases, non-ground-based methods, such as visual docking systems or autoland-capable avionics, are used as supplements or alternatives during adverse conditions.

Beyond conventional airports, landing technologies are also applied to helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and spacecraft in development, where different guidance, control, and sensing modalities determine the approach and touchdown.