System and method for suggesting switching operational modes of a ground proximity warning system

A method for suggesting that a pilot switch operation of an enhanced ground proximity warning system installed in a rotorcraft from a normal mode to a desensitized mode, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying a data source that includes terrain data and obstacle data;
• and
• in the ground proximity warning system:
• receiving flight data that is representative of at least a current position of the rotorcraft and of a flight path of the rotorcraft,
• retrieving terrain data and obstacle data from the data source along the flight path of the rotorcraft,
• evaluating the retrieved terrain data and the retrieved obstacle data to determine variations in elevations of terrain and obstacles in a predetermined area at a predetermined area ahead of the current position and along the flight path of the rotorcraft, and
• based at least in part on the determined variations, selectively generating an prompt that suggests that the pilot switch the ground proximity warning system to the desensitized mode.

A rotorcraft, comprising:

• a fuselage;
• a data source disposed within the fuselage and having terrain data and obstacle data stored therein;
• and
• an enhanced ground proximity warning system disposed within the fuselage and that can be selectively switched, by a pilot, to operate in either a normal mode or a desensitized mode, the enhanced ground proximity warning system in operable communication with the data source, the enhanced ground proximity warning system coupled to receive flight data that is representative of at least a current position and of a flight path of the rotorcraft and configured, upon receipt thereof, to:
• retrieve terrain data and obstacle data from the data source along the current flight path of the rotorcraft,
• evaluate the retrieved terrain data and the obstacle data to determine variations in elevations of terrain and obstacles in predetermined area that is a predetermined distance ahead of the current position and along the flight path, and
• based at least in part on the determined variations, selectively generate a prompt that suggests that the pilot switch the ground proximity warning system to the desensitized mode.