glide slope
- noun
- /ɡlaɪd sloʊp/
- Specialized
- The pilot adjusted the altitude to maintain a proper glide slope for the landing.
And you see the light at a different cell based on your position relative to an ideal glide slope.
- And you see the light at a different cell based on your position relative to an ideal glide slope.
Examples
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Is your glide slope and localizer reading consistent with mine?
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We've got unidentified traffic moving into your glide slope.
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On glide slope.
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During the approach, the aircraft followed a steady glide slope indicated by the instruments.
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The glide slope helps pilots align the plane with the runway as they descend for landing.
Synonyms
A movement that brings something closer to a target
The path a plane follows when coming down to land
The route a plane follows when going down to land, especially the last part before it touches the ground
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'glide' (to move smoothly through the air) with 'slope' (a slanting surface/path), so an average B1 learner can infer it refers to a sloping path used while gliding — i.e., the aircraft's descent path. Although in aviation it has a specific technical sense (instrument guidance), the core idea of a downward/angled flight path is directly derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
The noun glide slope shows a smooth, sloping path down to the runway: glide means to move smoothly and slope is a downward line. Aircraft follow this guided, gentle descent, so the phrase means the 'downward flight path' pilots use to land.