Alerting/Warning Systems

Airworthiness Requirements
25.1309 Equipment, systems, and installations.
(c) Warning information must be provided to alert the
crew to unsafe system operating conditions, and
to enable them to take appropriate corrective
action. Systems, controls, and associated
monitoring and warning means must be designed
to minimize crew errors which could create
additional hazards.

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

B737-200-Adv

B737-NG

FWC
Channel A:
-Monit. descrete
-Monit. 429 inputs
-Identify f.phase
-Gives signl to
Local &Mstr light
-Gives audio sig.
-Gives sig. to
MFDS
Channel B:
Similar but no
audio sig and no
local light
Channel A & B
have different
power source
(Ess. Bus and
Critial Bus)

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

Standby Annunciator Panel (SAP)

SAP backups all RED level 3 alerts and most important AMBER level 2 alerts.
SAP has audio generator for A/P disconnect cavalry charge and overspeed clacker.
When FWC operates, SAP inoperative. Dual channel FWC fail, SAP operates
(WARN-SYS light comes on). Manual operation possible (push BACK-UP button).

Warning And Indicating Light

(31 53 00 2-4)
Categories according to the Function:
Warning lights.
Designed to alert the flight crew of unsafe conditions and
act accordingly, colored red.
Caution light
These are amber in color to indicate abnormal but not
necessarily dangerous condition requiring caution, e.g.
hydraulic system pressure running low.
Indicating or Advisory light
These lights, which are either green or blue, are provided
to indicate that a system is operable or has assumed a
safe condition .e.g. landing gear down and locked.

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

ALERT LIGHTS AND PRIORITY

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

Example (31 51 00 1-5)

Flight Phases Inhibitor (FPI)

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

Flight
Phase
Determination

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

FPI Example (31 53 00 7)

Ground Proximity Warning System

GPWS
To detect the aircraft distance to the ground
(using a radio altimeter)
Can be disengaged by pulling the circuitbreaker or pushing flap/gear inhibit switch.
FLAP/ GEAR INHIBIT
SWITCH
Normal Flap/ Gear position
logic for Mode 2 4
Flap/Gear Inhibit turn off
warnings because Flap and L/G
NOT in the Landing
Configuration

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

GPWS
GPWS provides warning to the crews when ONE of
the following modes occurs:
9 Mode 1 Excessive descent rate
9 Mode 2 Excessive terrain closure rate
9 Mode 3 Altitude loss after takeoff or go-around
9 Mode 4 Unsafe terrain clearance during high speed
flight or while not in the landing configuration
9 Mode 5 Below glide slope deviation alert

Mode 1 4 (aural alerts and warning light) higher

priority than Mode 5.
The PULL UP and BELOW G/S may be illuminate
at the same time

Mode 1: Excessive Descent Rate

Two areas of warning:
Penetration in Area I results in
Aural Alerts SINK RATE every
0.75 sec.
Penetration in Area II results in
Aural Alerts WHOOP WHOOP
PULL UP, until the Rate of
Descent corrected.

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

Mode 1: Excessive Descent Rate

Mode 2: Excessive terrain closure rate

This mode monitors:
1. Airspeed
2. Altitude (radio and barometric)
3. A/C Configuration
This mode has two areas:
Area I: Aural alert TERRAIN
twice,
Area II: Aural warning
WHOOP WHOOP PULL UP.
After leaving the PULL UP
area, warning TERRAIN
remains if the aircraft still in the
envelope TERRAIN

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

Mode 2: Excessive terrain closure rate

Mode 2A :
If L/G and flap are not in landing position when leaving the
PULL UP area, minimum altitude is 300 ft to stop the
TERRAIN warning.
Increasing Airspeed from 0.35 to 0.45 M (gear up), Mode 2
gives warning until 2450 ft altitude.

Mode 2: Excessive terrain closure rate

Mode 2B :
Active when flaps in landing position.
Range from 200 ft 600 ft (depends on Baro rate).
No altitude gain required to eliminate TERRAIN warning after
PULL UP warning off.
When L/G and flap in landing configuration, PULL UP warning is
off under 700 ft altitude, only TERRAIN warning ON.

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

10

Mode 3: Altitude loss after takeoff or go-around

Warning active if during initial climb aircraft loss altitude

(descent). Applies also during go-around. Compares Baro alt
vs Peak alt, >10% difference warning activated.
Warning aural DONT SINK, repeated every 0.75 sec until
normal flight condition.
Active at 50 -700 ft radio altitude and activated when aircraft
decent below 200 ft with landing (?) configuration.

Mode 3: Altitude loss after takeoff or go-around

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

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Mode 4A Unsafe terrain clearance with

Landing Gear not down. (31 52 00 1)

Two aural warnings (repeated every 0.75 sec):

TOO LOW-GEAR aircraft takeoff, climb until 700 ft with L/G
(retracted) and penetrate the area with speed less than 181 kt.
2. TOO LOW-TERRAIN penetrate at speed more than 181 kt.
Upper limit becomes 1000 ft.
1.

Mode 4B Unsafe terrain clearance

with flaps not in landing position

Two aural warnings:

1.
TOO LOW-FLAPS when landing gear (down) and flap not
in landing configuration, penetration to the area at speed less
than 149 kt.
2.
TOO LOW-TERRAIN penetration to the area at speed
higher than 149 kt. Upper limit becomes 1000 ft.

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

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Mode 5: Below glide slope deviation alert

When aircraft decent more than 1.3 dots below ILS glide slope
Two warning areas: soft and loud
Aural warning GLIDE SLOPE and the BELOW G/S light illuminates.
The frequency will increase as glide slope deviation increases and the
altitude decreases.
This mode is activated at 1000 ft or less.
This mode can be de-activated by pressing BELOW G/S light button
when the altitude below 1000 ft.

Mode 5: Below glide slope deviation alert

(c) 2013 by Edy Suwondo

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