Excessive sink rate warning system for aircraft

A warning system for use in aircraft having a barometric altimeter and a radar altimeter comprising:

• a circuit responsive to the barometric altimeter for generating a barometric altitude rate signal;
• a first comparator circuit responsive to said radar altimeter and said barometric rate signal effective to generating a first logic signal responsive to a first predetermined relationship between said barometric rate signal and altitude above ground;
• a circuit for generating a voice sink rate warning in response to said first logic signal;
• a second comparator circuit responsive to said radar altimeter and said second barometric rate signal effective to generate a second logic signal responsive to a second predetermined relationship between altitude and barometric descent rate;
• a circuit responsive to said logic signal for inhibiting said voice sink rate warning;
• and
• a circuit for generating a voice pull-up warning in response to said second logic signal.

An excessive descent rate warning system for use in aircraft having a source of signals representing the aircrafts barometric descent rate and a radio altimeter, comprising:

• means, responsive to the descent rate signal and the radio altimeter, for generating a voice sink rate advisory warning according to a first predetermined relationship between descent rate and radio altitude;
• means, responsive to the descent rate signal and the radio altimeter, for generating a voice pull-up type warning signal according to a second predetermined relationship between descent rate and radio altitude wherein said second predetermined relationship requires a greater descent rate for each altitude to generate said pull-up type warning than does said first predetermined relationship;
• and
• means for inhibiting said sink rate warning when said pull-up warning is generated.

A warning system for use in aircraft having a source of signals representing the aircraft's barometric rate of descent and a source of signals representing the aircraft's altitude above terrain, comprising:

• means for comparing the aircraft's barometric rate of descent with the aircraft's altitude above the ground;
• a first signal generating means, responsive to said comparing means, for generating a voice sink rate type of warning signal representing a condition wherein the altitude aircraft is exceeding a descent rate according to a first predetermined relationship between barometric descent rate and aircraft altitude above the terrain;
• a second signal generating means, responsive to said comparing means, for generating a second type of warning signal representing a condition wherein the aircraft is exceeding a descent rate amounting to a second predetermined relationship between barometric descent rate and aircraft altitude above the terrain;
• and
• means for increasing the amplitude of said voice sink rate warning as a function of increasing descent rate for a given altitude.

A warning system for use in aircraft having a source of signals representing the aircraft's altitude above terrain, comprising:

• means for comparing the aircraft's barometric rate of descent with the aircraft's altitude above the terrain;
• a first signal generating means, responsive to said comparing means, for generating a voice sink rate type of warning signal representing a condition wherein the aircraft is exceeding a descent rate according to a first predetermined relationship between barometric descent rate and aircraft altitude above the terrain, wherein said first predetermined relationship will cause said first signal generating means to generate said voice sink rate warning at a descent rate of 1,200 feet per minute for an altitude of 100 feet above the terrain;
• and
• a second signal generating means, responsive to said comparing means, for generating a voice pull-up type warning signal representing a condition wherein the aircraft is exceeding a descent rate amounting to a second predetermined relationship between barometric descent rate and aircraft altitude above terrain.