As the era of GCA ashore concludes and the comforting phrases "approaching glidepath, begin descent" or "over
landing threshold, on course" are no longer heard in headsets, the next-generation PALC systems will continue the Navy and Marine Corps ATC tradition of bringing our aircrew back safely.
The PAPI is always 1000 feet beyond the landing threshold, the glideslope always meets the runway at the PAPI.
This PAPI is less than 1000 feet beyond the landing threshold due to the displacement, but the glideslope still meets the runway at the PAPI.
Consciously check your aiming point, glidepath, airplane configuration, attitude, power setting and airspeed as you near the
landing threshold. If any one is not managed so that the airplane will touch at a point where sufficient runway remains to stop, and at a speed where the airplane will not float excessively nor have excess energy that cannot be dissipated in time, then a go-around is not only advisable, it is mandatory.
Turning an emergency into a good beer story often means riding the balance between keeping the long-term goal in view--the
landing threshold, in the case of this dead-stick--and the immediate needs.
The system consists of steady-burning white lights that start 100 feet beyond the
landing threshold and extend to 3000 feet beyond the
landing threshold or to the midpoint of the runway, whichever is less.
Flying on instruments and the moving map only, fly over the landing threshold as shown on the map, start your spiral down with the 30-degree bank, and see how fast you're coming down in the current condition.
If you arrive with altitude to spare, then you should aim to enter a circular pattern either directly over the landing threshold in the landing direction, or directly into the "key position" abeam the numbers.
The gate will be established along the final approach course one mile from the final approach fix on the side away from the airport and will be no closer than five miles from the
landing threshold."
It's adjusted to be 700 feet wide at the
landing threshold. The longer the runway, the more sensitive the localizer will seem from the cockpit.
Vertically, GBAS supports offset
landing thresholds (landing further down the runway) and variable glideslope angles.