Auditory feedback in avionics application

Commercial airlines are always striving to ensure greater safety for their crew and passengers. It is generally recognised that between two-thirds to three-quarters of aircraft accidents are due to pilot error, and a considerable number of these involve controlled flight into terrain; stated simply, the crew does not appreciate how close they are to the ground and so they fly into it. The outcome is often disastrous with major loss of life and aircraft hull. One possible solution might be to provide more auditory feedback to alert crew to the fact that their aircraft is descending or ascending. This paper considers some of the issues associated with this suggestion