초록 ▼

A terrain-awareness system (TAS) provides LOOK-AHEAD/LOOK-DOWN as well as LOOK-UP terrain advisory and warning indications to the pilot of an aircraft of a hazardous flight condition. The TAS includes an airport data base as well as a terrain data base that is structured to provide various resolutio

A terrain-awareness system (TAS) provides LOOK-AHEAD/LOOK-DOWN as well as LOOK-UP terrain advisory and warning indications to the pilot of an aircraft of a hazardous flight condition. The TAS includes an airport data base as well as a terrain data base that is structured to provide various resolutions depending on the topography of the particular geographic area of interest. Navigational data from a satellite-based navigational system, such as a global positioning system (GPS), is used to provide a LOOK-AHEAD/LOOK-DOWN and LOOK-UP terrain advisory and terrain warning indications based upon the current position and projected flight path of the aircraft. Since the terrain advisory and the warning signals are a function of the flight path of the aircraft, nuisance warnings are minimized.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:] [1.] A device for alerting a pilot to a hazardous condition on approach to a runway comprising:an input for receiving signals representative of a position of the aircraft, a glidepath of the aircraft, and coupled

[ What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:] [1.] A device for alerting a pilot to a hazardous condition on approach to a runway comprising:an input for receiving signals representative of a position of the aircraft, a glidepath of the aircraft, and coupled to a data base of stored terrain and airport runway information;an output;a signal processing device, coupled to said input, and coupled to said output, for:(a) selecting from said data base of stored terrain and airport runway information, information pertaining to a runway of intended landing;(b) establishing a first cut off altitude as a function of runway elevation;(c) establishing a second cut off altitude as a function of aircraft altitude and distance from the runways;(d) selecting between said first and second cut off altitudes to obtain an absolute cut off altitude, and(e) outputting an alert signal as a function of said absolute cut off altitude to alert the pilot that the aircraft is in danger of impacting terrain prior to landing on said runway of intended landing.