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ILS FAA Instrument Landing System Standard Characteristics and Terminology

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Authors not listed · 1972

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1972 radar field mapping reveals high-intensity EMF zones around airports that still expose millions today.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 technical report documented computed field intensity measurements from radar antenna systems, including instrument landing systems (ILS) and air route surveillance radar (ARSR). The research focused on mapping electromagnetic field patterns in the near-zone beam areas around these high-powered radar installations. This type of field mapping was essential for understanding exposure levels around aviation radar systems that operate continuously at airports.

Why This Matters

This technical documentation represents an important piece of the puzzle in understanding radar EMF exposures that affect millions of people daily. Aviation radar systems like ILS and ARSR operate at substantial power levels and run continuously at airports worldwide, creating persistent electromagnetic field exposures for airport workers, nearby residents, and air travelers. The 1972 timeframe is significant because it predates most EMF health research, meaning these systems were deployed and field intensities mapped without consideration of biological effects. What makes this particularly relevant today is that many of these same radar systems continue operating at airports, often with even higher power levels, while we now have decades of research showing potential health effects from chronic EMF exposure. The near-zone beam patterns documented in studies like this help us understand that radar exposure isn't uniform - there are hotspots and areas of intense field concentration that create much higher exposures than average measurements might suggest.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

graphPage 1 - AI-described figure: Figure 4-28 and Figure 4-29 show computed field intensity in the near-zone beam of an ASR antenna with different types of aperture illumination.
p. 1 of the original PDF
graphPage 2 - AI-described figure: Figure 4-30 and Figure 4-31 show computed field intensity in the near-zone beam of an ARSR antenna with cosine taper and cosine-squared taper of aperture illumination, respectively.
p. 2 of the original PDF
diagramPage 3 - Figure 5-1. View of the components and layout of an instrument landing system.
p. 3 of the original PDF
diagramPage 4 - AI-described figure: Figure 5-2. Sketch of an eight-loop localizer antenna array, top view (above) and side view of one element in the array (left).
p. 4 of the original PDF
photoPage 5 - Figure 5-4. Photograph of a V-ring localizer antenna array, ILS, Denver.
p. 5 of the original PDF
diagramPage 6 - Figure 5-6. Sketch of one element in a V-ring localizer antenna array giving approximate dimensions.
p. 6 of the original PDF
chartPage 7 - AI-described figure: Figure 5-9. Profile of field intensity in front of the center element of a V-ring localizer antenna, Oklahoma City.
p. 7 of the original PDF
graphPage 8 - Figure showing profile of electric field strength in front of a V-ring localizer antenna at various heights above ground.
p. 8 of the original PDF
diagramPage 10 - Figure 5-12. Top view of a traveling-wave localizer antenna array, with approximate dimensions.
p. 10 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 108.1 - 111.9 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 108.1 - 111.9 MHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (1972). ILS FAA Instrument Landing System Standard Characteristics and Terminology.
Show BibTeX
@article{ils_faa_instrument_landing_system_standard_characteristics_and_terminology_g4104,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {ILS FAA Instrument Landing System Standard Characteristics and Terminology},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The research examined instrument landing systems (ILS) and air route surveillance radar (ARSR) - two critical aviation radar types that operate continuously at airports. These systems guide aircraft landings and track air traffic across large geographical areas.
Near-zone beam patterns describe how electromagnetic energy concentrates close to radar antennas before spreading out. These areas often have the highest field intensities and create hotspots of EMF exposure around radar installations.
Field intensity mapping helped engineers understand where electromagnetic energy concentrated around radar antennas. This information was crucial for equipment placement, safety protocols, and ensuring radar systems met technical performance requirements without interference.
Many ILS and ARSR radar systems from this era continue operating at airports worldwide, often with upgraded power levels. Modern airports typically have multiple radar systems creating overlapping electromagnetic field exposures for workers and nearby communities.
Aviation radar systems operate at much higher power levels than consumer devices, creating field intensities that can be thousands of times stronger than cell phones or WiFi in their near-zone areas around airport facilities.