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A history of visual approach guidance indicator systems in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

B. A. J. Clark  and
P. Antonenko
B. A. J. Clark
Affiliation:
(Air Operations Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Melbourne)
P. Antonenko
Affiliation:
(Air Operations Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Melbourne)
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Abstract

Approach and landing are the phases of flight most associated with accidents and near accidents, especially when external visual cues are sparse. At what is now Australia's DSTO Aeronautical Research Laboratory, research on ways of reducing the hazard incidence resulted in the development and testing of several ground-based visual approach slope indicators. The T-VASIS landing aid was an outcome of this work, T-VASIS, which has been in international use for over twenty years, is now under potential threat of displacement by PAPI which is a more recent UK development. The research which led to the implementation of T-VASIS is described here, along with subsequent events leading to the introduction of PAPI to Australia. A glossary of abbreviations is included at the end of the paper.

Keywords

Airfield lighting.Safety.Approach and Landing.Human factors.
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 1993 , pp. 49 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1993

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