Microwave Landing System Instrumentation-A Pilot's Viewpoint

In 1995 the Microwave Landing System (MLS) will replace the Instrument Landing System (ILS) as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard approach landing aid. MLS has a degree of flexibility not before encountered with the ILS. This will lead to complex approaches which the pilot will be required to monitor. In certain failure conditions he may be required to continue, or discontinue, the approach using manual, as opposed to automatic, flight.

Eventually, MLS will be able to support very complex approaches in both azimuth and elevation. The pilot will have special requirements to monitor the safety of such approaches.

The aim of this paper is to present a pilot's view of MLS operations. In order to do this, a hypothetical MLS approach is followed from prior to top of descent to landing or go-around.