Hello, I read about so called precision and non precision approaches and the way Iunderstand is that a precision approach includes a glide slope. My question is how can I see see - on the chart - that a glide slope exists ?It seems to me that an indication of an ILS does not automatically includea glide slope. NB: I am a Newbie Thk Rolando Carmini

Hi Rolando, You are right.The basic difference between a precision and non precision approach is 'vertical guidance'. A precision approach offers vertical guidance as well as lateral guidance but a non precision approach only provides lateral guidance. The procedures that a pilot must follow are listed under the section 'Terminal Procedures' or more commonly known as 'Approach Plates' in the aerodrome charts. Browse through the airport arrival charts and after looking at standard departures/arrivals charts, you should see charts that are labelled 'ILS Rwy XXL/C/R' ('XX' being the runway designator). This would be an approach plate or an instrument approach procedure chart - both mean the same.On this chart, you will find the various frequencies regarding the airport. Below that you will notice LOC (localizer) identifier and frequency, approach course, ILS DA(H), Airport and runway elevation etc. Below that would be the missed approach procedure and finally a graphically depicted 'birds eye' view of the ILS procedure for the specified runway.Coming to the mid section of the chart, you have the lateral view of the procedure. Nothing different in terms of procedure but this shows you the descent profile that you must follow all the way till the runway threshold and finally right at the bottom, the area will be split into two halves. The left one being RVR (Runway Visual Range) information and the right side usually states 'Circle to land' procedures. P.S. : An ILS system always includes both the localizer and a glide slope although these two work independently, they are coupled together and known as the 'Instrument Landing System'. Hope that helps :) Cheers, Karan

If the chart title states ILS than a GS is included. If you look at the vertical profile of a chart, you should see a "wedge" representing the GS beam width similar to the LOC wedge on the horizontal view. Where your altitude of entry meets the GS you'll see an X representing the intersection on the GS. Here is an LOC (localizer only) vertical profile for the US. To establish altitude in this case DMEeadings from the LOC are used. If no DME references are available then you use altitude based on ground speed timing tables on the chart.