Patent ID: 6088634
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: G01C,G05D

Abstract:
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.