The Instrument Landing System, ILS, was to be replaced by the Microwave Landing System, MLS, in the 90's. This is not the current plan. The FAA has canceled it's MLS production contract and is moving rapidly toward implementing precision and Cat I approach and landing procedures using the Differential Global Positioning Syste, DGPS. The future role for MLS, in the international community is not clear. It is envisioned that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, will ultimately provide approach and landing capability internationally. There are questions of when Cat II and Cat III service will be available and on the viability of Cat IIIC (autoland) using the GNSS. What is clear is that ILS will have a substantially extended life span. Therefore, improved ILS equipment should be of interest to the navigation community.
展开▼
