Methodic aspects of aircraft glide slope correction for prevention of CFIT category accidents during pre-landing descent

Abstract

Aviation accidents of the category of controlled flight into terrain in world commercial aviation are included into three "killers" in aviation together with loss of control in flight (LOC-I) and runway excursions (RE). As a result of long-term research of this problem the methods of CFIT risk level reduction, pilot training and retraining programs were developed and put into practice. Also several generations of onboard ground proximity or obstacle warning systems were created (GPWS, EGPWS, TAWS), the disadvantage of which is a passive – advisory type of warnings. The conclusions of the commissions concerning the results of aviation accidents investigations indicate the cases of crew disregard of an alarm of a ground proximity warning system and possibility of a go-around procedure to make a missed approach. Despite the aviation community actions, accidents of this category continue to occur. Therefore, search of new methods and solutions of the controlled flight into terrain problem is necessary. One of the possible ways to resolve this problem is making proximity warning systems active and two-mode operative. The first one is some type of warning to the crew about approaching the boundaries of a safe maneuvering area during approach to land as well as the recommendations to avoid a glide path deviation. The second way is that if the crew members don`t take any actions with a warning on or crew actions are not effective enough, it is necessary to regain a glide slope with temporary pilot disengagement from a control loop.