What does an ILS provide during an instrument approach?

An Instrument Landing System (ILS) provides both lateral and vertical course guidance to assist pilots during an instrument approach to landing. The lateral guidance is given by the Localizer, which aligns the aircraft with the runway centerline, ensuring that the approach is on the correct horizontal path. The vertical guidance comes from the Glideslope, which indicates the optimal descent path, helping pilots to achieve the correct approach angle to the runway. This dual guidance is critical for safe landings, especially in low visibility conditions, as it allows pilots to navigate precisely to the intended landing surface, ensuring both proper alignment and descent profile during the approach.