Ground proximity warning instrument utilizing glideslope modulation of excessive descent rate envelope

Claim 2

A ground proximity warning system for aircraft for advising the pilot of a hazardous flight condition during an approach to a landing comprising: means for receiving a signal representative of the altitude of the aircraft above ground; means for receiving a signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft; means for receiving a signal representative of the deviation of the aircraft from a glideslope beam; and means responsive to said altitude above ground representative signal and said descent rate representative signal for generating a warning if the descent rate of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined magnitude that is excessive for the altitude above ground at which the aircraft is flying, said warning means being further responsive to the glideslope deviation representative signal for increasing the magnitude of the descent rate required to generate said warning when the aircraft is above the glideslope.

Claim 3

A ground proximity warning system as recited in claim 1 wherein said warning means is further responsive to said glideslope deviation representative signal for reducing the magnitude of the descent rate required to generate a warning when the aircraft is below the glideslope.

Claim 4

A ground proximity warning system for aircraft for advising the pilot of a hazardous flight condition during an approach to a landing comprising: means for receiving a signal representative of the altitude of the aircraft above ground; means for receiving a signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft; means for receiving a signal representative of the deviation of the aircraft from a glideslope beam; and means responsive to said altitude above ground representative signal and said descent rate representative signal for generating a warning if the descent rate of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined magnitude that is excessive for the altitude above ground at which the aircraft is flying, said warning means being further responsive to the glideslope deviation representative signal for reducing the predetermined magnitude of the descent rate required to generate said warning earlier when the aircraft is below the glideslope relative to said warning when the aircraft is not below the glideslope.

Claim 5

A ground proximity warning system for aircraft for advising the pilot of a hazardous flight condition during an approach to a landing comprising: means for receiving a signal representative of the altitude of the aircraft above ground; means for receiving a signal representative of the descent rate of the aircraft; means for receiving a signal representative of the deviation of the aircraft from a glideslope beam; and means responsive to said altitude above ground representative signal and said descent rate representative signal for generating a warning if the descent rate of the aircraft exceeds a predetermined magnitude that is excessive for the altitude above ground at which the aircraft is flying, said warning means being further responsive to the glideslope deviation representative signal for reducing the predetermined magnitude of the descent rate required to generate said warning earlier when the aircraft is below the glideslope relative to said warning when the aircraft is not below the glideslope.