Upper side lobe of glideslope
I've been reading one of the threads in "Reportiong Points" dealing with the complaints against RyanAir. On two occasions capturing the glideslope from above is mentioned. In both cases it is implied that this is not desirable for safety and is common and becoming more so, but the comments though critical are fairly blasé.
Now I am not yet a commercial pilot, but I recently went through a JAA fATPL course, and now teach groundschool including some Radio Nav, so the theory is still fairly fresh, and this is not allowed. There seemed to be no conceern that it is not legal on a procedure to capture the glideslope from above.
1) Is this happening often, and is it getting more common?
2) are over-hurried procedures to blame?
3) Is capture from above, with the risk of capturing the first upper sidelobe, dangerous? I know that if the pilot is visual or is checking off height/distance it should be obvious, but it has been shown before that the latter is not always done. Secondary indications such as low power/high speed may be ignored - we have all been taught how the mind rejects information not consistent with the model we have developed of our current situation.
4) If so what can/should be done about this, both by a pilot brought in too tight and expected to capture from above, and in the long term about the apparent increase in this practice?