Pilot Institute

JANUARY 14, 2025

Even driving a car can be dangerous in foggy weather. So, how do pilots manage to land their aircraft safely and accurately without even being able to see where theyre going? The ILS (Instrument Landing System) uses radio signals to help pilots align the aircraft accurately on their approach to a runway.

Approach 98

Approach Descent Runway Instrument Landing System 98

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

By 1933, the US Airway Beacon System consisted of more than 1,500 beacons spread across approximately 18,000 miles of airways, guiding pilots safely through the skies at night. While these lights are designed to be visible from a distance, adverse weather conditions can limit their range and effectiveness.

VOR 64

VOR Pilot Instrument Landing System Weather 64

Pilot Institute

FEBRUARY 15, 2025

These would guide them when they couldn’t see anything outside their airplane. But these systems had some problems, like not being able to work over water, or if there was something in the way of the transmitter and the aircrafts receiver. This makes more airports accessible under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).

Approach 52

Approach Pilot Descent Airplanes 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Three-Bar VASI To help you when flying long-bodied airplanes, like the Boeing 747 or the McDonnell Douglas MD-11, some airports use the three-bar VASI. When your eyes are on the proper slope for a long-bodied airplane, you’ll see the top bar red, the middle bar white, and ignore the lower bar, which is also white.

Runway 98

Runway Approach Threshold Clearance 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

When I had the endurance to drive 20 miles to an appointment, had good situational awareness of all the cars around me on the freeway, and when driving didn’t take 100 percent concentration, I had passed the first challenge before getting in the airplane. The first flight got weathered out, with broken clouds at 1,500 feet.

Pitot Tube 84

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 84

Pilot Institute

DECEMBER 4, 2024

(Explaining Each in Simple Terms) LPV, LNAV, and VNAV are three navigation types that provide Global Positioning System (GPS) based instrument approach guidance for your aircraft. That’s because each one assists you in navigating to the runway based on the weather and your aircraft equipment. Better weather conditions.

Approach 52

Approach Descent Weather VOR 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

Understanding both traditional and GPS-integrated methods gives you more options in various weather conditions. Consistent instrument scanning and course corrections are required to maintain a precise approach. Unlike an Instrument Landing System (ILS), a VOR approach only provides horizontal guidance.

VOR 52

VOR Approach Descent Final Approach 52