Flight tests were conducted to comparatively evaluate five different types of visual glide path indicators. The systems installed at the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center (NAFEC) were:Westinghouse Tri-Color, Navy Mirror, USAF Interim Mirror, Australian Cumming-Lane, and British RAE. All of the systems were set up on Runway 13, and as nearly as possible, each system was adjusted to the same vertical angle as the ILS glide path.nA wide cross section of pilots from all segments of aviation participated. A cross section of aircraft was employed, from a Piper Tri-Pacer to the Boeing 707.nInitial testing was directed toward selecting the more promising systems followed by concentrated testing and comparative evaluation of the selected systems. Accordingly, the last six weeks of the program were devoted to comparative evaluation of the Australian dimming-Lane and the British RAE system.nSubjective data indicate that more pilots prefer the RAE system than prefer the Cumming - Lane. All pilots but one indicated that a requirement exists, under certain conditions, for visual glide path assistance.nTheodolite recordings show that no significant differences exist in the maximum range at which the lights can be seen (with respect to the systems named above), or in the maximum range at which guidance is available. The RAE system, however, provides guidance to a lower altitude than does the Cumming-Lane system.nIt is recommended that the RAE Visual Glide Path Indicator be adopted as the United States standard.
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