Ground Proximity

Warning System
(GPWS)

What is GPWS?
A ground proximity warning system (GPWS) is a
system designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in
immediate danger of flying into the ground or an
obstacle.
The main purpose of these systems 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 a
mountain or building.
Since 1960s, a series of CFIT accidents killed
hundreds of people.

 The United States Federal Aviation Administration defines

GPWS as a type of terrain awareness warning system
(TAWS).
An EGPWS is simply a GPWS that uses GPS (and possibly
DME) and Barometric information to allow the EGPWS to
sense forward obstacles and windshear. The EGPWS takes
many other inputs into account as well when deciding whether
or not to give the crew a terrain warning. It also provides a
terrain map referenced to the aircraft's surroundings. This is
the main advantage of EGPWS over GPWS.

CFIT and GPWS

CFIT can be the result of factors such as navigation errors,
pilot fatigue, or reduced visibility owing to weather
conditions.
CFIT incidents have been reduced since GPWS entered
widespread use in the 1970s.
The use of a GPWS in large aircraft is required by law in
many countries.
In the late 1990s improvements were made and the system was
renamed "Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System
(EGPWS)

How GPWS Works?

RA measures how far
aircraft from the ground.
GPWS computer analyzed
the information from radar.
Computer can identify
hazardous situations (very
close to ground/terrain, rapid
ROD & loss of altitude)
GPWS display gives visual
and audio warning signals
to the pilot.

EGPWS
EGPWS has pre-loaded ground level and specific obstacles
database. So, it will announce about approaching to natural or
human-made obstacles (e.g. towers or tall buildings). GPWS will
say no warning in advance.
EGPWS uses Geometric Altitude algorithms and reduce CFIT
possibility due the Baro Altitude errors because of temperatures
variations.
EGPWS has automatic runway Picker function and lets
correctly select intended runway.
EGPWS uses Pitch Angle call-out which is activated if pitch
angle exceeds 30 deg. of pitch angle. Excessive pitch angle leads
to stall conditions and can be fatal.
EGPWS uses improved algorithms to display ground heights and
indicates dangerous zones by different colours.

The following diagram shows the difference in inputs and outputs when
comparing the first GPWS and the now current EGPWS.

Audio & Visual Warning

Audio & Visual Warnings are provided under any of the following
conditions:
Excessive rate of descend (sink rate)
when closure rate with terrain is too high (terrain-terrain)
loss of altitude after take-off (dont sink)
if the aircraft is too low and slow, with landing gear retracted (too
low, gear)

GPWS Modes

MODE 1: Excessive Descent Rate

Warns of excessive Rate of Descent(ROD)
A GPWS warning light will illuminate and sink rate, sink rate
will be heard.
If the situation is not corrected whoop, whoop, pull up, pull up
will be heard.

Note: "Pull Up" may be preceded by "Whoop, Whoop" in some configurations based on the
audio menu option selected.

MODE 2: Excessive Terrain Closure Rate

Mode 2 provides alerts to help protect the aircraft from impacting
the ground when rapidly rising terrain with respect to the aircraft is
detected.
Mode 2 exists in two forms, 2A and 2B.
Mode 2A is active during climbout, cruise, and initial approach
(flaps not in the landing configuration and the aircraft not on
glideslope centerline).
If the aircraft penetrates the Mode 2A caution envelope, the aural
message TERRAIN, TERRAIN is generated and cockpit
EGPWS caution lights will illuminate. If the aircraft continues to
penetrate the envelope, the EGPWS warning lights will illuminate
and the aural warning message PULL UP is repeated
continuously until the warning envelope is exited.

Mode 2B provides a desensitized alerting envelope to permit

normal landing approach maneuvers close to terrain without
unwanted alerts. Mode 2B is automatically selected with flaps in
the landing configuration (landing flaps or flap over-ride
selected). It is also active during the first 60 seconds after
takeoff.
During an approach, if the aircraft penetrates the Mode 2B envelope
with either the gear or flaps not in the landing configuration, the aural
message TERRAIN, TERRAIN is generated and the EGPWS
caution lights illuminate. If the aircraft continues to penetrate the
envelope, the EGPWS warning lights illuminate and the aural message
PULL UP is repeated continuously until the warning envelope is
exited.

MODE 3: Altitude Loss After Take-off

Warns of loss of altitude after take-off or low altitude goaround
If the aircraft sinks 10 percent of its radar altitude dont sink
will be heard.

MODE 4: Unsafe Terrain Clearance

Mode 4 exists in three forms, 4A, 4B, and 4C.
Mode 4A is active during cruise and approach with the gear
and flaps not in the landing configuration.
Mode 4B is active during cruise and approach with the gear
in the landing configuration and flaps not in the landing
configuration.
Mode 4C is active during the takeoff phase of flight with
either the gear or flaps not in the landing configuration.
Mode 4 alerts activate the EGPWS caution lights and aural
messages.

Mode 5: Descent below

Glide Slope
Mode 5 provides two levels of alerting for when the aircraft
descends below glideslope, resulting in activation of EGPWS
caution lights and aural messages.

Mode 6: Situation Awareness (Bank Angle, Altitude)

Mode 6 provides EGPWS
advisory callouts based on the
menu-selected option
established at installation (set
by program pin
configuration). These callouts
consist of predefined Radio
Altitude based voice callouts
or tones and an excessive
bank angle warning. There is
no visual alerting provided
with these callouts.

Mode 7: Wind shear Information

Mode 7 is designed to provide alerts if the aircraft encounters
windshear. Two alerting envelopes provide either a Windshear
Caution alert or a Windshear Warning alert each with distinctive
aural and visual indications to the flight crew.

Thank you for your attention