Who Checks the Localizer/ILS at an Airport?

While pilots don't have the capability to check a localizer like you do a VOR in an aircraft, there is a strategy to see if the unit is in service.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 11:30 AM ET

Verified

The FAA has been incrementally upgrading the 30-year-old NOTAM system, and the new changes went live April 18, 2026. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Pilots are not responsible for "checking" localizers or ILS; instead, they should consult NOTAMs for service status and identify the correct frequency before use.
The FAA is solely responsible for the operational checks and certifications of ILS facilities, conducting inspections periodically, upon commissioning, and after specific events or special circumstances.
FAA maintenance personnel coordinate planned ILS shutdowns and post them via NOTAMs to minimize disruption, while malfunctions reported by multiple pilots lead to immediate NOTAMs removing the facility from service until re-validated.

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Question: I just started my instrument training. I know the pilot is supposed to check the VOR every 30 days if they want to use it for IFR flight, but how often is the localizer and ILS checked for normal operation? Does the pilot have to check that too?

Answer: The pilot doesn’t have the capability to “check” the localizer like you do a VOR in an aircraft, but you can check the Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) to see if the unit is in service. You also should identify it before use to be certain you are tuned in to the correct frequency. As far as who checks them for correct operation, that falls on the FAA.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.