Lecture 12:

Approach
Lighting System (ALS)

By: Zuliana Ismail,2010

Learning Outcomes
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At the end of this lecture, the

student should be able to:
Describe the theory and use of Approach
Lightings System (ALS) and their
importance during aircraft landing.

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Why Approach Lighting Systems

is important?

Importance of Lighting
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Lighting systems are

important for a/c landing
during night time.

Lighting systems from the

cockpit window during bad
weather.
Poor visibility is mainly due
to heavy snowfall
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Importance of Approach Lighting

System
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Approach Lighting System (ALS) is the tail end

of the Air Navigation System, thus, it is
important to affect the aircraft landing.
ALS allows the pilot to see and identify the
Runway end and align the aircraft to land on
the runway.
It very important especially during night time,
bad weather and poor visibility
ALS also important to verify positive contact
and let you know where the begin an end of
the runway is.

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What pilot should do if he unable to

see the ALS?

ALS uses
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At the point where Decision Height is reached,

pilot must be able to see ALS, then pilot can
continue the approach.
If pilot can not see the ALS, the approach must
be aborted and a missed approach procedure
will be performed.
This is where the aircraft will climb back to a
predetermined altitude and position.
From there the pilot will either try the same
approach again, try a different approach or
divert to another airport.

Definition
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Decision Height : the altitude at which,

during a ILS landing approach, a pilot
must decide whether to land or
missed approach.

ALS Configurations
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ALS are designed to allow the pilot to quickly

and positively identify visibility distances
under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
The most common approach light system
configurations include:
ALSF-1: Approach Lighting System with
Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 1
ALSF-2: Approach Lighting System with
Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 2

Approach Lighting System

Configuration 2
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To align the aircraft with the centerline

of the runway and to establish vertical
orientation.
Up to 174 steady burning white
lights serve as a reference plane,
Two rows of red side row increase
the pilots horizontal perception.
Up to twenty-one white lights create a
sequential flash pattern that rolls
toward the runway threshold.

Approach Lighting Systems (ALS)

Thresholds Light: Appear green for a/c landing
and red a/c take-off
Runway Touch Down Zone Light
Give depth view of the runway

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3. Approach Light
Warning red light, which a/c
should not land yet

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2. Cross Bar Light

Indicate a/c wings
status
1. Sequence Flashing Light
To guide the pilots eyes toward
the runway centerline

Approach Lighting
System (ALS)

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VISUAL APPROACH
SLOPE INDICATORS
(VASI)

VASI
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VASI are light systems to assist pilot

with visual guidance during an
aircraft landing by indicate the
pilots right angle of approach.
They are located on the side of the
runway and can be used both during
the day and at night.

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Visual Approach Slope Indicators

(VASI)
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VASI may have 2 bars (rows) of lights.

A 2-bar system has one near and one far
bar. Each bar can contain 2 light units.
If both bars show white lights, you are
too high for your landing.
If both bars show red, you are too low.
If the far bar is red and the near bar is
white you are just right (be on the glide
path).

Visual Approach Slope Indicators

(VASI)
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Visual Approach Slope Indicators

(VASI)
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PRECISION APPROACH
PATH INDICATOR (PAPI)

PAPI
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PAPI work in a similar manner to the VASI.

The difference is PAPI only have one row of
lights.

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This one row contain 4 light units.

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If all four lights show white, you are too high

for your landing.
If all four lights show red, you are too low.
If two lights show red and two lights show
white you are just right (be on the glide path).

Precision Approach Path Indicator

(PAPI)
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