 Introduction:

Project name: Ground Proximately Warning System (GPWS)

Intro: It is an instrument/ equipment in Aircraft to alert the Pilots if they are at
dangerously low altitude and danger of crashing.
Types of GPWS:
Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) are generally classed into two
types: 1) Basic and 2) Enhanced
1) BASIC: -
 Basic GPWS (often referred to simply as “GPWS”) works by
measuring the aircraft’s height over the ground (and the rate of
change of that height) through the use of radio altimeters (“Rad
Alts”) which work by transmitting radio waves beneath the aircraft
and measuring the time it takes them to be reflected back to the
aircraft. This result is the height of the aircraft over the ground, or it’s
“radio altitude”.
 Basic GPWS combines the radio altitude of the aircraft together with
the aircraft’s configuration (flaps and landing gear) and
instrumentation (ILS glide slope) to issue caution and warning
callouts to the crew.
2) Enhanced GPWS: -
 (EGPWS) works by overlaying the aircraft’s computed position
with a database of known runways, terrain and obstacles to
create caution and warning “envelopes” ahead of the aircraft
which will trigger the relevant callouts and warnings
 GPWS Basic Modes
There are 5 basic modes of Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS),
which are usually active up to a “rad alt” (radio altitude – i.e. height above
the ground) of 2500 feet.
Mode 1 – Excessive Rate of Descent: This is triggered by high rates of
descent near the ground (it’s measured by radio altitude, or “rad alt”) and
results in a “Sink Rate, Sink Rate” caution. The associated warning if
triggered is “Pull Up”. Mode 1 is active during all phases of flight.
Mode 2 – Excessive Terrain Closure Rate: Mode 2 takes into account gear
and flap configuration. There are two types of Mode 2 alerts: Mode 2A
(active during climb, cruise and initial approach) and Mode 2B (active
during approach and 60 secs after takeoff). With landing gear up the
warnings are “Terrain”, “Terrain Terrain” and “Pull Up”. With landing gear
down, the “Terrain” caution is triggered.
Mode 3 – Altitude Loss Following a Takeoff or Go-Around: Triggered after
significant altitude loss after takeoff or go-around – “Don’t Sink, Don’t
Sink”.
Mode 4 – Terrain Clearance Not Sufficient (while in landing configuration).
Mode 4A and 4B are active during cruise and approach, and Mode 4C is
active during go-around. Mode 4A triggers “Too Low Terrain, Too Low
Gear” when the landing gear is up, Mode 4B triggers “Too Low Terrain, Too
Low Flaps” with flaps not in landing configuration (but landing gear down)
and Mode 4C triggers with flaps not in landing configuration OR gear up:
“Too Low Terrain”.
Mode 5 – Excessive Descent Below Glide Slope – triggered when the aircraft
descends below the glideslope and the aural alert “Glideslope” is triggered.
 Scope of GPWS:
 The main purpose of this system is to prevent what is called a
Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT).
 CFIT is an accident in which an aircraft crashes into the ground, the
water, or an Obstacle such as mountain or building.
 CFIT can be result of factor such as navigation error, Pilot fatigue or
reduce visibility ongoing to whether conditions.
 CFIT incident have been reduced since GPWS introduced