Comparison of ILS and GBAS precision landing systems: Santiago de Cuba Airport

Abstract

The Santiago de Cuba airport has installed the Instrument Landing System (ILS) as an aid system to make landings in conditions of low or no visibility. However, it has been in operation for several years. Therefore, it needs to be revitalized or replaced. The aim of this paper is to make a comparison between the existing ILS system and a new system called the Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS). The latter is internationally successful. The comparison between systems is made based on the advantages and disadvantages, technical infrastructure requirements, the navigations aids, air coverage, safety and an economic assessment. The results obtained allowed us to determine that the implementation of the GBAS system at the Santiago de Cuba airport is viable, less expensive, and that it guarantees better airspace management in the vicinity of the aerodrome compared to the existing ILS system.