Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System / A-VDGS (RLG Docking Systems, distributed by Vardhman Airport Solutions)
A 3D laser-scanning docking guidance system from RLG Docking Systems (Taiwan) that tracks incoming aircraft nose position in real time and displays stopping and azimuth guidance to the flight deck — eliminating the weight and height variables that defeat simpler optical systems.
The Advanced Visual Docking Guidance System (A-VDGS) solves a fundamental problem at the gate: getting an aircraft stopped within the precise centimetric tolerance of a fixed jetbridge connection or a hardstand parking position, across all aircraft types regardless of their nose height, fuselage length, or landing weight. The RLG GIS-series system uses a 2-axis laser scanner to track both the lateral and longitudinal position of the approaching nose continuously, feeding those measurements into the gate display unit in real time rather than relying on a pre-programmed weight/height table. This eliminates the systematic errors inherent in camera-only and fixed-sensor VDGS designs. The pilot-facing display presents a large-format azimuth bar (12-inch) and alphanumeric closing-distance readout (8-inch) — visible from both the captain and first officer seat. If the aircraft type selected by the gate operator does not match the scanned silhouette, the system raises an alert before the aircraft closes to an unsafe distance. On full systems, an optional aircraft type recognition module performs independent visual confirmation. The operator interface layer connects each gate into a Gate Operation System (GOS) that provides live status across all stands, time-stamped docking records, chock-on/chock-off events, and FIS/FOS data for billing integration. Optional interfaces extend to passenger boarding bridges, GPU and PCA interlock signals, CCTV capture, and SITA AMS linkage. The system complies with ICAO Annex 14 recommendations. The RLG design was first deployed commercially in 1969 and the platform has accumulated installations across multiple international airports; Vardhman was formalised as the India-region distribution partner in 2017 and has deployed the system at Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport with Tata Projects, and received a Service Excellence Award from Adani Jaipur International Airport for AVDGS performance.
Technical specifications.
| Sensing technology | 2-axis laser scanning (3D) |
| Range accuracy (>50 m) | ±0.2 m at 150 m |
| Range accuracy (<50 m) | ±0.05 m |
| Power consumption | <700 W |
| Power input | AC 85–240 V, 50/60 Hz auto-select |
| Pilot display — azimuth bar | 12-inch, high-visibility |
| Pilot display — distance readout | 8-inch alphanumeric |
| Aircraft type coverage | All ICAO aircraft types |
| Optional interfaces | PBB, GPU, PCA, CCTV, FIS/FOS, SITA AMS |
| Compliance | ICAO Annex 14 |
Use cases.
- ›Contact stand guidance at international terminal gates handling wide-body and narrow-body mixed traffic
- ›Hardstand parking position guidance where jetbridges are absent and marshalling wand accuracy is insufficient
- ›Gate management system integration providing time-stamped turn-round data for billing and performance analytics
- ›Passenger boarding bridge interlock preventing bridge movement until nose-in docking is confirmed
- ›New terminal fitout where ICAO Annex 14 VDGS provision is mandated and a single-supplier solution is required
Replacements & compatible alternatives.
Comparable Runway Lighting & Airfield Electrical from other suppliers. Cross-shop on specs — confirm exact fit and compatibility with the supplier before specifying.
