The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) CFIT Task Force made the following
recommendations to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):
- That requirements for the use of ground-proximity warning system (GPWS)
be broadened. ICAO in 1998 amended its requirement for GPWS to include
all aircraft with maximum takeoff weights above 5,700 kilograms/12,500
pounds or authorized to carry more than nine passengers;
- That early model GPWS equipment be replaced. ICAO in 1999 introduced
an amendment requiring predictive terrain hazard warning functions in
GPWS equipment (enhanced GPWS or terrain awareness and warning systems)
in turbine airplanes certified on or after Jan. 1, 2001, and with maximum
takeoff weights above 15,000 kilograms (33,069 pounds) or authorized
to carry more than 30 passengers;
- That color-shaded depictions of terrain heights be shown on instrument
approach charts. ICAO said that requirements for such depictions are
scheduled to be introduced in November 2001;
- That aircraft operators be warned against using three-pointer altimeters
and drum-pointer altimeters. ICAO in November 1998 adopted amendments
prohibiting the use of these altimeters in commercial aircraft operated
under instrument flight rules and warning that “due to the long
history of misreadings, the use of drum-pointer altimeters is not recommended”
in other aircraft;
- That the design and presentation of nonprecision instrument approach
procedures be improved with a standard three-degree approach slope,
except where prohibited by obstacles. ICAO said that requirements for
such improvements are scheduled to be adopted in November 2001;
- That automated altitude call-outs be used. ICAO in 1998 amended the
standards for operations manuals to require that they include “instructions
on the maintenance of altitude awareness and the use of automated or
flight crew call-out”; and,
- That the important CFIT-avoidance benefits provided by the global
positioning system/global navigation satellite system (GPS/GNSS) be
recognized. ICAO in 1995 cited the urgent need for progress in applying
satellite navigation to nonprecision instrument approach procedures.
In 1998, ICAO introduced GNSS area navigation procedures. ICAO said
that criteria to support basic GNSS operations in all phases of flight
are scheduled to be introduced in November 2001.
The task force also recommended that all civil aviation authorities adopt
the use of hectopascals for altimeter settings. (ICAO and the World Meteorological
Organization both introduced requirements in 1986 for the use of hectopascals
for altimeter settings.)
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