Science: The Hated Slopeline

On a rainy afternoon last week, an Italian airliner approached New York City's International (Idlewild) Airport through a low overcast from which heavy rain was falling. Guided by instruments and radar, Captain Guglielmo Algarotti brought the airplane out of ragged clouds at 300 ft. altitude and tried to land on Runway 22. He missed it and circled back into the clouds.

Captain Algarotti circled for three-quarters of an hour, then was given permission to land on Runway 4. His first try was unsuccessful; so were the second and third. On his fourth approach, the control tower warned him that he was flying...

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