Originally Posted by
TBSC
How can it happen? A CATIII-certified ILS must have an independent backup power source able to provide uninterrupted power (practically with a margin of 1 or 2 seconds).
I wasn’t taking that much notice looking out of the window but I would say approaches were just below or around CAT 1 limits with a low cloud base. Luton used to have a talk down radar service in the days of the then runway 08 having no ILS by using higher minimums.
I assume that as well as the ILS being knocked out so were the runway lights. I believe CAT 3 approaches require approaches to be made on standby power with the mains power acting as reserve. If at the time it wasn’t CAT 3 conditions my understanding is there would be no requirement for the generators to be up and running. Clearly when they were supposed to kick in it didn’t happen.