Eindhoven Airport is investigating whether it will upgrade its current Instrument Landing System (ILS) category I so that aircraft can also take off and land at Eindhoven Airport in bad weather conditions with little or less visibility. The reason for this is the serious disruptions to air traffic at and from Eindhoven Airport as a result of poor visibility in combination with the low category ILS of the runway that took place last year.
In preparation for a responsible consideration of a possible upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to a higher category, various studies are carried out and discussions are held. For example, the airlines were asked which category they prefer and, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense (the owner of the runway), it is investigated which adjustments to the runway and at the airport are required to enable a higher ILS category. The costs for the construction and maintenance of an upgrade are also mapped out.
In addition to the Ministry of Defense, the expertise of Schiphol and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) was also engaged for the investigation. At the moment it seems sensible to link a possible upgrade to major maintenance on the runway. This is currently planned in 2025. This will prevent the runway having to be closed twice for a longer period and that adjustments to the top layer of the runway are canceled out. Eindhoven Airport is expected to take a decision on a possible upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) in the autumn of 2021.
The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a radio navigation system that pilots use to land. A precision approach to the runway can be carried out using the ILS. The ILS has three categories (category IIIB being the most extensive). You can land at airports with this ILS category without a view of the runway. Eindhoven Airport currently has an ILS category I. Op Eindhoven Airport pilots need a minimum view of the runway 550 meters to be allowed to land.
