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Due to inclement weather, an aircraft flies an instrument approach into Oakland Airport. Given low visibility and ceiling, the captain elects to make an ILS approach to the field. An ILS, or Instrument Landing System, provides glide path and glide slope information. The ILS presents the pilot with a 3-degree glide slope which must be adhered to.
The captain flies to the outer marker, located five nautical miles from the landing point. The captain crosses the outer marker, inbound at 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL). Measured from mean sea level (MSL) at Oakland, 1,500 feet AGL at this airport is 1510 MSL. The point of intended landing at Oakland is 10 feet MSL or 0 feet AGL.
On final approach, the Captain maintains a steady true air speed (TAS) of 135 knots. A headwind of exactly 5 knots is directly on the nose of the aircraft. The vertical speed indicator (VSI) measures aircraft vertical speed in feet per minute.
Compute the reading, in feet per minute, that the Captain is witnessing on her VSI.
Send the correct answer to [email protected] for a chance to win a Tucker’s gift card.
Last week’s winner was John Lovato with Time T= 135 minutes.
WARNING: Use of AI to solve this problem automatically puts you on a NO FLY list.
Jeff Smith is a former Math teacher and a retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander. Reach him at [email protected].
