When a headwind changes to a tailwind while flying a 3° glide slope, what conditions should the pilot expect?

When a headwind transitions to a tailwind while flying a 3° glide slope, the pilot should anticipate that airspeed and pitch attitude will decrease, leading to a tendency to go below the glide slope. This phenomenon occurs because a headwind provides additional lift and controls the aircraft's airspeed, helping maintain the desired glide path.

When the wind shifts to a tailwind, the aircraft benefits from less lift compared to the previous headwind scenario. As a result, the airspeed may decrease because the tailwind effectively pushes the aircraft forward, reducing the apparent ground speed necessary to maintain the same rate of descent and glide slope. The aircraft tends to lose altitude more quickly, placing it at risk of descending below the glide slope unless corrective actions, such as increasing thrust or adjusting pitch attitude, are taken. Pilots must be aware of this behavior during the approach to ensure they maintain the appropriate descent profile for a successful landing.