Approach power compensator system for carrierbased aircraft was studied. A variable structure control based on sliding mode for discrete-time system was used to design approach power compensator system with the constant angle of attack on ground velocity. The integrated simulation model of automatic carrier landing for aircraft was constructed. The simulation results show that: a carrier-based aircraft can fly along the expected flight path and touchdown the angle deck with approach power compensator system. It can effectively resist the terminal approach carrier disturbance, and the aircraft flying qualities in landing on carrier are improved.Index Terms -approach power compensator; variable structure control; aircraft; constant angle of attack; flying quality