An Automatic Landing System

Abstract

The concept, theory, implementation, and test results of the Bell Aircraft Automatic Landing System are presented. The system, which requires no additional airborne electronics equipment in land-based aircraft carrying an ILAS receiver and coupler, employs a precise ground-based radar and command computer. The major source of error of this closed-loop system is turbulence, while performance is limited chiefly by aircraft and autopilot properties. Flight-test results covering over 2000 automatic touchdowns and a variety of propeller and jet aircraft are presented for vertical and lateral degrees of freedom.