What type of information does the glideslope signal provide?

The glideslope signal is an integral part of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) that assists pilots in ensuring they are on the correct descent path during an approach to landing. Specifically, the glideslope provides vertical guidance, indicating whether the aircraft is above, below, or on the optimum glidepath to reach the runway.

This vertical guidance is expressed as a descent slope, ultimately leading the aircraft down to the lowest authorized decision altitude or decision height, which is critical for making safe landing decisions. The glideslope helps maintain the correct angle of descent, ensuring that the aircraft arrives at the runway threshold at the right altitude, thereby increasing safety and precision during landing.

Speed information for landing, wind direction for approach, and elevation changes for taxiing do not relate to the function of the glideslope signal. Each of these other factors plays a role in flight operations, but they are not the primary data that the glideslope provides.