glideslope

Noun

glideslope (plural glideslopes)

1. The portion of an instrument landing system which provides vertical guidance to an aircraft during an approach to landing.
   • The constant angle of descent technique requires pilots to maintain a predetermined constant angle and constant rate of descent, which is generally calculated to be about 3°, except when terrain or an obstacle necessitates a steeper descent. When a ground-based glideslope signal is absent, pilots...2000, National Transportation Safety Board, “1.17.4.2 Flight Crew Actions and Callouts During Nonprecision Approaches”, in Aircraft Accident Report: Controlled Flight Into Terrain, Korean Air Flight...
   1. (broadly) The vertical descent profile produced by the ILS glideslope transmitters.
      • Staying on the glideslope is vitally important for a safe, stabilized approach and landing.
2. The approach path of an aircraft as it comes in to land.