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Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS ): An Overview
Research · May 2023
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36450.50887
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TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
THAPATHALI CAMPUS
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS ): An Overview
by:
Milan Dhami (THA075BME019)
Prakash Panthi (THA075BME023)s
A REPORT
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AUTOMOBILE AND MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF AUTOMOBILE AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
February 2023
Abstract
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) is a critical safety feature used in aircraft that helps
prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents. The system uses sensors to monitor an
aircraft's altitude and position in relation to the ground and provides pilots with early warnings of
potential ground proximity hazards. This report provides an overview of the history and
development of GPWS, its working principle, and the different variations, including Enhanced
Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS). The report focuses on assessing the effectiveness
of GPWS in reducing air accidents, primarily those caused by CFIT. The methodology used in the
report involves a comprehensive review of academic research papers, industry articles, and
relevant information from manufacturers such as Honeywell and Boeing. The review also includes
an analysis of data on air accidents from reputed sources and studies covering a period of several
years, from even before the introduction of GPWS in the mid-1970s to the latest available statistics.
2
Table of Contents
1. Abstract .............................................................................................................................. 2
2. Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. 3
3. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4
4. Working Principle............................................................................................................. 5
5. History and Development ................................................................................................. 7
6. Methods .............................................................................................................................. 9
7. Modes of Operation ........................................................................................................ 10
8. Effectiveness .................................................................................................................... 12
9. Limitations: ..................................................................................................................... 14
10. Conclusion: ...................................................................................................................... 16
11. References ........................................................................................................................ 17
3
Introduction
Flying an aircraft is a complex task that requires attention to detail and a high level of situational
awareness. One of the most significant dangers that pilots face is the possibility of a controlled
flight into terrain (CFIT) accident, where an aircraft flies into the ground, water, or other obstacles.
Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) were developed to address this danger and provide
pilots with early warnings of potential ground proximity hazards. It is an avionics system designed
to alert pilots. The system uses a variety of sensors, such as radar altimeters, to determine the
aircraft's altitude and compare it to a digital terrain map database. If the system detects that the
aircraft is in a potentially hazardous situation, it will alert the pilots with visual and audible
warnings, allowing them to take action to avoid a collision.1,2,3,4,5
GPWS was first introduced in the 1970s, in response to a number of fatal accidents that occurred
as a result of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). CFIT accidents happen when an aircraft
inadvertently crashes into the ground or an obstacle, often due to a loss of situational awareness
on the part of the pilots. GPWS was developed to help prevent these types of accidents by providing
pilots with a warning when they are in danger of flying into the ground.2,6
Since its introduction, GPWS has evolved into more advanced systems, such as Enhanced Ground
Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).
These systems provide more detailed terrain and obstacle information, as well as other features
such as predictive windshear and runway overrun protection. Today, GPWS and its variations are
standard equipment on most commercial and military aircraft, helping to improve aviation safety
and prevent accidents.1,5
4
Working Principle
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) is a safety feature in aircraft that constantly monitors
the aircraft's altitude and position in relation to the ground. GPWS works by using radar altimeters
to measure the aircraft's altitude, a terrain database to detect any potential collision hazards,
warning algorithms to analyze the data, and providing both audible and visual alerts to the pilot to
take appropriate action. The system's warnings are designed to be attention-getting and
informative, with alerts such as "Terrain, terrain, pull up!". The pilot is responsible for taking the
necessary action to avoid the collision, such as climbing or turning the aircraft.
Fig1: Basic input and output of GPWS6
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) , having made a market entry in 1996,
provides warnings to the flight crew with a broader field of view. It is equipped with a forward-
looking terrain awareness, FLTA, system that alerts the flight crew of any hazardous obstacle or
terrain ahead of them. In doing this, it is integrated with the global positioning system, GPS, which
provides accurate aircraft navigational data such as position, ground track, and speed based on a
database of digital terrains and obstacles. These data are automatically captured and together with
5
the aircraft’s altitude, they are cross-referenced with the information in the database, stored within
a computer in the aircraft.3
6
History and Development
Since the mid-1960s, various entities in the aviation industry, such as avionics manufacturers,
national and international industry organizations, and airlines and airframe manufacturers, have
been closely monitoring incidents and causes of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). CFIT can
occur due to a variety of reasons, including crew error, which is the primary cause factor of hull
loss 111, as well as errors in air traffic control, weather conditions, and navigation instrumentation.
Two examples of recent CFIT accidents are the crash of an American Airlines B757 in Cali,
Colombia in December 1995, and the USAF B737 crash that occurred in Dubrovnik, Croatia in
April 1996, which led to the death of US Commerce Secretary Ron Brown. It is worth noting that
the majority of aviation accidents are attributed to CFIT.6,7
Fig 2: World airlines fatalities along with type of accident7
In the early 1970s, a team of engineers at Sundstrand Data Control, led by Don Bateman, developed
the first GPWS prototype, which used radar altimeters to warn pilots of impending terrain
collisions and was designed to provide audio warnings to pilots based on the aircraft's altitude and
rate of descent. Over time, the system has evolved to include additional inputs, such as airspeed,
radio altitude, and flight path information, to provide more accurate and timely warnings. The
system was first installed on a commercial aircraft in 1974, and its success led to widespread
adoption throughout the aviation industry. It has led to decrease in accidents8
7
Over the years, GPWS has evolved into more advanced systems, such as Enhanced Ground
Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).
These systems incorporate more sophisticated terrain and obstacle databases, predictive windshear
detection, and other advanced features to provide pilots with greater situational awareness and help
prevent CFIT accidents.6,7
The first GPWS was developed in the 1970s and was designed to provide audio warnings to pilots
based on the aircraft's altitude and rate of descent. Over time, the system has evolved to include
additional inputs, such as airspeed, radio altitude, and flight path information, to provide more
accurate and timely warnings. The GPWS has become standard equipment on most commercial
airliners and has been credited with reducing the number of CFIT accidents.1,6,7
8
Methods
This report is aimed to examine the effectiveness of the Ground Proximity Warning System
(GPWS) in reducing air accidents. The methodology used for this report involved a comprehensive
review of academic research papers, industry articles, and relevant information from manufacturers
such as Honeywell and Boeing.
The review focused on studies that explored the role of GPWS in preventing Controlled Flight Into
Terrain (CFIT) accidents, which have been a major cause of fatalities in the aviation industry. The
review also included studies on the development and evolution of GPWS, including its enhanced
versions such as Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) in brief.
To know about working, modes of and to assess the effectiveness of GPWS, data on air accidents
from reputed sources and studies were analyzed. The data covered a period of several years, from
even before the introduction of GPWS in the mid-1970s to the latest available statistics, and
focused on the reduction of CFIT accidents and the associated fatalities and injuries.
The results of the analysis were then used to evaluate the impact of GPWS in reducing air accidents
and improving aviation safety. Overall, the methods used for this report were based on a
comprehensive review of the available literature and data on GPWS, and aimed to provide a
comprehensive and evidence-based evaluation of the system's impact on air safety.
9
Modes of Operation
GPWS systems have several modes of operation, each designed to address a specific type of
flight situation that can lead to a crash. The following are the different modes of operation of
GPWS:
1) Excessive Descent Rate (Mode 1): This mode alerts the pilot if the aircraft's descent rate is
too high and there is a risk of collision with the terrain. It causes the repeated aural warning
of WOOP WOOP PULL UP, until the rate of descent has been corrected.9
2) Terrain Clearance Flap (Mode 2): This mode alerts the pilot if the aircraft is flying too low
and the flaps are not in the correct position for the altitude. It has two boundaries, the first
causes an aural alert of TERRAIN repeated twice, followed by the repeated aural warning
of WOOP WOOP PULL UP. After leaving the PULL UP area the repeating TERRAIN
message will be heard while in that portion of the envelope. If both boundaries are
penetrated while in the landing configuration, only the repeating TERRAIN aural alert will
occur. If the landing gear and wing flaps are not in the landing position when leaving the
PULL UP area, 300 ft of barometric altitude must be gained before the aural TERRAIN
alert is silenced.9
3) Mode - 3 Altitude Loss After Take off Or Go Around
Provides an alert if a descent is made during initial climb or go around. The audible alert
is a voice message "DON'T SINK", repeated until the condition is corrected. 9
Note: An "aircraft go-around" is a procedure in aviation where a pilot decides to abort a
landing approach and perform a climb back to a safe altitude for another approach. This
decision can be made by the pilot or prompted by the air traffic control tower.
10
4) Mode -4A - Unsafe Terrain Clearance With Landing Gear Not Down
This is the terrain clearance mode with the landing gear not down, and is armed after take
off upon climbing through 700 ft radio altitude. Aural alert TOO LOW, GEAR is sounded.
9
Mode 4B - Unsafe Terrain Clearance With The Flaps Not In Landing Position
This mode provides an alert when the flaps are not in landing position. The aural alert TOO
LOW FLAPS is sounded. The TOO LOW GEAR alert takes priority over TOO LOW
FLAPS.9
5) Mode 5 Glideslope: It indicates the excessive deviation below the calculated flight path of
the glideslope provided by the ILS (“Instrument Landing System”) with aural alert
GLIDESLOPE. 9,4
6) Mode 6 Advisory Callouts: Based on menu selected and situations it gives different
callouts. Examples: TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED at 2500 ft.10
7) Mode 7- Wind shear: This is the detection of “wind shear”, that is the sudden variation of
the wind in intensity and direction and aural alert is WIND SHEAR.4
GPWS cautions and warnings that alert the flight crew to obstacles and terrain ahead of the aircraft
in line with or adjacent to its projected flight path (forward looking terrain avoidance (FLTA) and
premature descent alert (PDA) functions).
*Note that the specific modes and warnings of GPWS may vary among different aircraft and
manufacturers, and the systems are constantly being improved to provide the best possible
protection to pilots and passengers.
11
Effectiveness
Every year, an average of 1.35 million individuals worldwide unfortunately die in road traffic
accidents, while only 493 people on average lose their lives in incidents involving aircraft. This
makes air travel unquestionably the safest mode of transportation and we are currently
experiencing a period of great success in terms of aircraft safety. Many procedures and systems
are utilized daily to guarantee the secure transportation of people and goods by air. Sadly, some of
these measures were put in place after the loss of numerous lives. However, the aviation sector is
always striving to improve and update its procedures, as well as implement new ones, in order to
keep pace with the ever-changing world and incorporate the latest technology and software.11
Ground Proximity Warning Systems (GPWS) have been shown to be highly effective in reducing
the number of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents. The system provides pilots with early
warnings of potential ground proximity hazards, allowing them to take corrective action to avoid
a crash. The GPWS has become an essential tool for pilots and has been credited with improving
aviation safety.
GPWS provides pilots with audible warnings, such as "pull up" or "terrain ahead," and visual alerts
in the form of light bars or displays, to alert them of potential terrain conflicts. This gives the pilot
time to take evasive action and avoid a collision with the ground.9
Studies have shown that GPWS has been effective in reducing CFIT accidents by over 70%. The
use of GPWS has become widespread, and it is now a standard feature in most modern airliners.
However, it is important to note that GPWS is not a substitute for proper pilot training and decision-
making. The system is designed to assist pilots in avoiding accidents, but it is ultimately the
responsibility of the pilot to fly the aircraft safely and make the final decision on how to respond
to the warnings.7
12
Fig 3: CFIT accidents over the years7
GPWS has proven to be a highly effective tool in reducing the number of CFIT accidents, but it
should be used in conjunction with other safety measures, such as proper pilot training and
effective decision-making.
13
Limitations:
The basic modes of GPWS have no “knowledge” of the location of the aircraft – they are simply
triggered when certain parameters are exceeded, for example, when the rad alt (radio altimeters)
detect a high rate of closure with terrain. Basic GPWS is essentially always “looking down”.
The example often given of the limitation of Basic GPWS is this: imagine an aircraft flying level
over flat ground towards a sheer cliff or mountain. As the terrain immediately below the aircraft is
flat the rad alts will detect no change in aircraft altitude, and as such won’t trigger any alerts. The
aircraft will continue to fly level until it crashes into the cliff.
It is also not a substitute for a properly trained and alert flight crew. The system relies on accurate
altitude and airspeed information, and can be affected by environmental factors, such as fog or
heavy precipitation. Pilots must always remain vigilant and make final decisions based on their
own judgment and the information available to them in the cockpit.
Some of the limitation of the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) are12:
1) Navigation is not to be predicated on the use of the terrain display.
2) Unless geometric altitude data is provided, use of predictive GPWS functions is prohibited
when altimeter subscale settings display QFE.
3) Nuisance alerts can be issued if the aerodrome of intended landing is not included in the
GPWS airport database.
4) In cold weather operations, corrective procedures should be implemented by the crew
unless GPWS has in-built compensation such as geometric altitude data.
5) Loss of input data to the GPWS computer could result in partial or total loss of
functionality. Where means exist to inform the crew that functionality has been degraded,
this should be known and the consequences understood.
6) Radio signals not associated with the intended flight profile (e.g. ILS glide path
transmissions from an adjacent runway) may cause false alerts.
7) Inaccurate or low accuracy aircraft position data could lead to false or non-annunciation of
terrain or obstacles ahead of the aircraft.
14
8) Minimum Equipment List (MEL) restrictions should be applied in the event that GPWS
becomes partially or completely unserviceable. (It should be noted that basic GPWS has
no forward-looking capability.)
15
Conclusion:
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) has been a crucial safety feature in aircraft since its
introduction in the 1970s. The system has helped prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
accidents and other ground proximity hazards by providing pilots with early warnings. The
technology has evolved over time, with more advanced systems, such as Enhanced Ground
Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), incorporating more sophisticated terrain and obstacle
databases, predictive windshear detection, and other advanced features. The effectiveness of
GPWS has been well-documented in reducing the number of CFIT accidents, which have been a
major cause of fatalities in the aviation industry. However, it is important to note that GPWS is not
a substitute for a pilot's situational awareness and decision-making skills. Pilots must remain
vigilant and use all available resources to ensure the safety of their flight. Overall, GPWS has
become a standard feature on most commercial and military aircraft, contributing significantly to
improving aviation safety and preventing accidents.
16
References
1. Honeywell International, Inc. (2019). Performance assessment of pilot response to
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) (1st ed.).
https://aerospace.honeywell.com/us/en/pages/enhanced-ground-proximity-warning-
system
2. GPWS. (n.d.). SKYbrary. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://skybrary.aero/gpws
3. GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System). (2022, August 22). Aeroclass.org. Retrieved
February 16, 2023, from https://www.aeroclass.org/gpws-ground-proximity-warning-
system/
4. The plane's anti-collision system: how the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
works. (2021, January 21). Professional Aviation. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from
https://www.professionalaviationschool.com/2021/01/21/plane-anti-collision-system-
how-ground-proximity-warning-system-gpws-works/
5. GPWS - A Definitive Guide | AviationMatters.co. (2021, January 27). Aviation Matters.
Retrieved February 16, 2023, from https://www.aviationmatters.co/gpws-ground-
proximity-warning-system/
6. Franjković, D., Bucak, T., & Hoti, N. (1). Ground Proximity Warning System- GPWS.
Promet - Traffic&Transportation, 11(5), 293-301. Retrieved from
http://traffic.fpz.hr/index.php/PROMTT/article/view/1143
7. Breen, B. C. (1999). Controlled Flight Into Terrain and the enhanced Ground Proximity
Warning system. IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, 14(1), 19–24.
doi:10.1109/62.738350
8. National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Donald Bateman Invented the GPWS. (2023,
February 2). National Inventors Hall of Fame®. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from
https://www.invent.org/inductees/c-donald-bateman
9. GPWS Explained. (n.d.). boeing-727.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023, from
https://www.boeing-727.com/Data/systems/infogpws.html#mode1
10. Honeywell International, Inc. (n.d.). Pilot's Guide - MK V & VII. SmartCockpit.
Retrieved February 16, 2023, from
https://www.smartcockpit.com/docs/EGPWS_guide.pdf
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11. Ferguson, o. (n.d.). Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) - A comprehensive
analysis. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.19157.50404
12. Advisory Circular — Guidance for Operators on Training Programme on the use of
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). (2020, June 1). CAAN. Retrieved February
16, 2023, from https://caanepal.gov.np/storage/app/media/01-2020-advisory-circular-
guidance-for-operators-on-training-programme-on-the-use-of-ground-proximity-warning-
system-gpws.pd
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