Localizer type directional aid


A localizer type directional aid or Instrument Guidance System is a type of localizer-based instrument approach to an airport. It is used in places where, due to terrain and other factors, the localizer antenna array is not aligned with the runway it serves. In these cases, the localizer antenna array may be offset in such a way that the approach course it projects no longer lies along the extended runway centerline. If the angle of offset is three degrees or less, the facility is classified as an offset localizer. If the offset angle is greater than three degrees, the facility is classified as a localizer-type directional aid. Straight-in approaches may be published if the offset angle does not exceed 30 degrees. Only circling minima are published for offset angles greater than 30 degrees. As a "directional aid", and only a Category I approach, rather than a full-fledged instrument landing system, the LDA is more commonly used to help the pilot safely reach a point near the runway environs, where they hopefully can see the runway, at which point they will proceed and land visually, as opposed to full Category III ILS systems that allow a pilot to fly, without visual references, very close to the runway surface depending on the exact equipment in the aircraft and on the ground.

An LDA uses exactly the same equipment to create the course as a standard localizer used in ILS. An LDA approach also is designed with a normal course width, which is typically 3 to 6 degrees. An LDA approach may have one or more marker beacons, perhaps a DME, and in rare instances a glide slope, just as other precision approaches have, such as ILS approaches.
If the offset is not greater than 30 degrees, straight-in approach minima may be published; circling minima only are published when offset exceeds 30 degrees.

Approach with Vertical Guidance

If a glideslope is installed, the instrument approach chart will note "LDA/Glideslope", and the approach will be considered an Approach with Vertical Guidance. The approach minimums will also be provided separately, listed as S-LDA/GS and S-LDA.

List of LDA approaches in the United States

The following 25 LDA approaches are available in the United States :
  1. PAJN, LDA X RWY 08, Juneau International Airport, Juneau, AK
  2. PAPG, LDA-D, Petersburg James A. Johnson Airport, Petersburg, AK
  3. PASI, LDA RWY 11, Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport, Sitka, AK
  4. PAVD, LDA-H, Valdez Pioneer Field, Valdez, AK
  5. PAWG, LDA-C and LDA/DME-D, Wrangell Airport, Wrangell, AK
  6. KFYV, LDA RWY 34, Drake Field, Fayetteville, AR
  7. KBIH, LDA RWY 17, Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, Bishop, CA
  8. KCCR, LDA RWY 19R, Buchanan Field, Concord, CA
  9. KSNA, LDA RWY 20R, John Wayne Airport–Orange County, Santa Ana, CA
  10. KTVL, LDA RWY 18, Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe, CA
  11. KVNY, LDA-C, Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, CA
  12. KEGE, LDA RWY 25, Eagle County Regional Airport, Eagle, CO
  13. KGJT, LDA RWY 29, Grand Junction Regional Airport, Grand Junction, CO
  14. KHFD, LDA RWY 02, Hartford–Brainard Airport, Hartford, CT
  15. KDCA, LDA Y RWY 19, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, DC
  16. KDCA, LDA Z RWY 19, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, DC
  17. PHNL, LDA RWY 26L, Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, HI
  18. KEKO, LDA/DME RWY 24, Elko Regional Airport, Elko, NV
  19. KDLS, LDA/DME RWY 25 and COPTER LDA/DME RWY 25, Columbia Gorge Regional Airport, The Dalles, OR
  20. KAMA, LDA RWY 22, Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport, Amarillo, TX
  21. KSGU, LDA RWY 19, St. George Regional Airport, Saint George, UT
  22. KSLC, LDA RWY 35, Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, UT
  23. KROA, LDA Y RWY 06 and LDA Z RWY 06, Roanoke Regional Airport, Roanoke, VA
  24. KEKN, LDA-C, Elkins–Randolph County–Jennings Randolph Field, Elkins, WV
  25. W99, LDA/DME-B, Grant County Airport, Petersburg, WV

    List of LDA approaches outside the United States

  26. LQMO, IGS RWY 33, offset 21°, Mostar Airport, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  27. LSGS, IGS RWY 25, offset 6.5° Sion Airport, Sion, Switzerland
  28. RJTT, LDA RWYs 22 & 23, offset 55° & 48° respectively, Tokyo International Airport, Tokyo, Japan
  29. RCBS, LDA RWY 24, offset 15°, Kinmen Airport, Kinmen, Taiwan
  30. RCFN, LDA RWY 04, offset 15°, Taitung Fongnian Airport, Taitung, Taiwan
  31. RCSS, LDA RWY 28, offset 8°, Taipei Songshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan

    List of decommissioned LDA approaches

  32. VHHH, IGS RWY 13, Kai Tak Airport, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong
  33. LLBG, LDA RWY 30, offset 11°, Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel
  34. KVUO, LDA-A, Pearson Field, Vancouver, WA
  35. BIAR, LDA RWY 01, offset 26°, Akureyri Airport, Akureyri, Iceland
  36. NVVV, LDA RWY 11, offset 26°, Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, Vanuatu
  37. EKVG, LDA RWYs 12 & 30, offset 14° & 2° respectively, Vágar Airport, Vágar, Faroe Islands
  38. LYTV, LDA RWY 32, offset 20°, Tivat Airport, Tivat, Montenegro