I’ve always wondered this, but I notice that IRL there are airports that aren’t equipped with ILS (lets just say LPMA or Madeira airport as an example) that have a glideslope and is shown in instruments during landing. My question is, why doesn’t IF have this? It will make much things easier for challenging airports that usually don’t have glideslopes in IF like Madeira.
Also HOW does this happen IRL? Is there another type of approach system set up that allows them to have a glideslope to capture upon landing that’s NOT ILS?
In the real world, airports without ILS or LOC hardware provide glideslope guidance through GPS and Visual systems rather than ground-based radio beams:
RNAV (GPS) Approaches: Pilots use satellite data (WAAS/SBAS) to create a “virtual glideslope.” Systems like LPV or LNAV/VNAV provide a glidepath on the cockpit instruments that looks and flies exactly like an ILS.
Visual Aids (PAPI/VASI): Physical light bars next to the runway provide a visual glideslope. Two white and two red lights indicate the pilot is on the correct 3-degree path.
Barometric VNAV: The aircraft’s computer uses atmospheric pressure and GPS position to calculate its own descent path to the runway threshold.
Advisory Vertical Guidance: Modern avionics (like Garmin systems) can “calculate” a fake glideslope for almost any runway to help pilots avoid “dive and drive” descents.
There is no official word on this yet as far as we know. All we can do is wait and see, and if it has not been requested already, you can request it in the Features section.
Just to confirm, before request something that already exists, these are all the types of approaches available in IF.
ILS (Instrument Landing System): Provides full lateral and vertical guidance. Identified by a red cone on the map; supports APPR mode for automated landings.
GPS/RNAV: Uses waypoints for navigation. Identified by a white cone on the map. It offers lateral guidance but lacks the vertical precision of ILS.
Visual: Pilots navigate manually by sight. Used in clear weather or when requested from ATC.
Localizer (LOC): Only provides lateral alignment. Used when the vertical component (glideslope) of an ILS is unavailable.
VOR/NDB: Older non-precision approaches using ground-based radio beacons for lateral guidance.
Unfortunately though it’s difficult to see them (even in the night) on approach unless you zoom which then, at least for me, makes the approach difficult.
