Publications

The feasibility of using a laser optical system to provide precision guidance for the final two miles of aircraft landing approaches in low visibility weather is examined. Since low visibility is caused most frequently by clouds and fog, approximate calculations of the optical signal, scattered light and noise are made as a function of range for various cloud and fog densities. It is concluded that with current laser technology, performance of an optical landing guidance system would be inadequate in the presence of Category III-a minimum visibility clouds and fogs.