ILS as an independent landing monitor

Government press releases and known FAA activities are clearly heralding the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as the landing system of the future. A need for redundancy is addressed, especially for low-visibility landings. The designation, landing system of the future, implies all-weather capability, i.e., landing capability when visibilities are less than 700 feet horizontally. This landing capability must be offered with minimal risk. This paper identifies a safeguard, which is, in effect, the coupling of the contemporary ILS with the GPS to provide a redundancy and an increase of reliability. The ILS is a trusted, reliable system with many Category II and III systems currently being deployed and operated. This equipment may very well be available for the next thirty years. Costs for the desired redundancy have therefore largely been accommodated. The combination of the two systems would provide aviators and the flying public with a redundant element that has been, in effect, tested for 59 years. This dual capability would allow for the creation of zero-visibility landing guidance that would surpass all presently designated standards world-wide. This paper suggests the implementation of such a dual-capability with consideration of the pilot factors, automation issues, and general practicality of such a scheme, designated here as an ILM, Independent Landing Monitor