Flight inspection of the instrument landing system (ILS) at Frankfurt Airport

In the period from 1 to 6 March 2022, calibration flights to check the instrument landing system of runway northwest at Frankfurt Airport will be conducted. A calibration aircraft especially equipped for this purpose will check the precision of the signals, which are essential for safe landings. Both operating directions of the runway will be checked, i.e. approaches from the east as well as from the west.

The flight calibration flights will begin at night. Should there be any delays due to technical reasons or if it is impossible to conduct the calibration flights for operational reasons, the flights will have to be continued in an alternative period. This alternative period would last from 17 to 19 March 2022.

The calibration aircraft being used is a small turboprop Beechcraft Super King Air 350. Overflights of built-up areas will be avoided as far as possible and as far as the specified flight profiles permit.
The instrument landing system provides navigational support for pilots during approach. The basic principle is that signal transmitters on the ground electronically define the approach course and glide path angle. The signals are received in the aircraft and displayed to the pilot in the cockpit. Only calibration aircraft that are specially equipped for this purpose are able to check the precision of these signals. 

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) prescribes the calibration of the instrument landing system at regular intervals. This is crucial for the safe, orderly and expeditious handling of air traffic at airports.

Media contact:
Kristina Kelek
Telephone: +49 (0)6103 707-4161
E-mail: presse@dfs.de

DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law with 5,600 employees as at 31 December 2021. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Around 2,200 air traffic controllers guide more than three million flights through German airspace in peak years, up to 10,000 every day. The company operates control centres in Bremen, Karlsruhe, Langen and Munich as well as control towers at the 15 designated international airports in Germany. The subsidiary DFS Aviation Services GmbH markets and sells products and services related to air navigation services, and provides air traffic control at nine regional airports in Germany and at London Gatwick Airport and Edinburgh Airport in the UK. DFS is working on the integration of drones into air traffic and has set up a joint venture, Droniq GmbH, with Deutsche Telekom. Other subsidiaries include R. Eisenschmidt GmbH, which markets publications and products for general aviation, and Kaufbeuren ATM Training GmbH (KAT), which provides training for military air traffic services personnel. The joint venture FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH offers flight inspection services.