A landing system for controlling operation of an aerial vehicle flying a final approach to a runway , the landing system comprising: a LIDAR scanner for mounting to the aerial vehicle ; and one or more computing device(s) configured to: obtain a first data set indicative of a reference flight path for the final approach to the runway , the first data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a first plurality of light beams emitted prior to the aerial vehicle flying the final approach; determine an actual flight path for the final approach based, at least in part, on a second data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a second plurality of light beams emitted from a light source of the LIDAR scanner when the aerial vehicle is flying the final approach; determine whether the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path based, at least in part, on the first data set and the second data set by comparing a time-of-flight measurement included in the first data set to a time-of-flight measurement included in the second data set; and when the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path by a predetermined amount, generate a control action to adjust operation of the aerial vehicle until the actual flight path no longer deviates from the reference flight path by the predetermined amount. a LIDAR scanner for mounting to the aerial vehicle ; and one or more computing device(s) configured to: obtain a first data set indicative of a reference flight path for the final approach to the runway , the first data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a first plurality of light beams emitted prior to the aerial vehicle flying the final approach; determine an actual flight path for the final approach based, at least in part, on a second data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a second plurality of light beams emitted from a light source of the LIDAR scanner when the aerial vehicle is flying the final approach; determine whether the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path based, at least in part, on the first data set and the second data set by comparing a time-of-flight measurement included in the first data set to a time-of-flight measurement included in the second data set; and when the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path by a predetermined amount, generate a control action to adjust operation of the aerial vehicle until the actual flight path no longer deviates from the reference flight path by the predetermined amount. obtain a first data set indicative of a reference flight path for the final approach to the runway , the first data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a first plurality of light beams emitted prior to the aerial vehicle flying the final approach; determine an actual flight path for the final approach based, at least in part, on a second data set comprising a time-of-flight measurement for each light beam of a second plurality of light beams emitted from a light source of the LIDAR scanner when the aerial vehicle is flying the final approach; determine whether the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path based, at least in part, on the first data set and the second data set by comparing a time-of-flight measurement included in the first data set to a time-of-flight measurement included in the second data set; and when the actual flight path deviates from the reference flight path by a predetermined amount, generate a control action to adjust operation of the aerial vehicle until the actual flight path no longer deviates from the reference flight path by the predetermined amount. <EOS>